Congenital disorder of oxygen sensing: association of the homozygous Chuvash polycythemia VHL mutation with thrombosis and vascular abnormalities but not tumors.
Adaptation to hypoxia is critical for survival and regulates multiple processes, including erythropoiesis and vasculogenesis. Chuvash polycythemia is a hypoxia-sensing disorder characterized by homozygous mutation (598C>T) of von Hippel-Lindau gene (VHL), a negative regulator of hypoxia sensing. Although endemic to the Chuvash population of Russia, this mutation occurs worldwide and originates from a single ancient event. That VHL 598C>T homozygosity causes elevated normoxic levels of the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin is known, but the disease phenotype has not been documented in a controlled manner. In this matched cohort study, VHL 598C>T homozygosity was associated with vertebral hemangiomas, varicose veins, lower blood pressures, and elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations (P <.0005), as well as premature mortality related to cerebral vascular events and peripheral thrombosis. Spinocerebellar hemangioblastomas, renal carcinomas, and pheochromocytomas typical of classical VHL syndrome were not found, suggesting that overexpression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF is not sufficient for tumorigenesis. Although hemoglobin-adjusted serum erythropoietin concentrations were approximately 10-fold higher in VHL 598C>T homozygotes than in controls, erythropoietin response to hypoxia was identical. Thus, Chuvash polycythemia is a distinct VHL syndrome manifested by thrombosis, vascular abnormalities, and intact hypoxic regulation despite increased basal expression of hypoxia-regulated genes.
Gordeuk
Victor R
VR
Center for Sickle Cell Disease, Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. vgordeuk@howard.edu
Sergueeva
Adelina I
AI
Miasnikova
Galina Y
GY
Okhotin
Daniel
D
Voloshin
Yaroslav
Y
Choyke
Peter L
PL
Butman
John A
JA
Jedlickova
Katerina
K
Prchal
Josef T
JT
Polyakova
Lydia A
LA
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000151:congenital* / Q000235:genetics; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013577:Syndrome; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein; C497446:VHL protein, human