title: Von Hippel-Lindau-dependent polycythemia is endemic on the island of Ischia: identification of a novel cluster.
abstract: Chuvash polycythemia (MIM 263400) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a high hemoglobin level, relatively high serum erythropoietin, and early death. It results from a Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene mutation (C598T) that causes increased HIF-1alpha activity and erythrocyte production in the face of normoxia. This polycythemia is endemic in Chuvashia, whereas its worldwide frequency is very low. We investigated the incidence of the Chuvash-type VHL mutation in Campania (South Italy) and identified 14 affected subjects (5 families). Twelve live on the island of Ischia (Bay of Naples). From analysis of the mutated allele, we found that the disease was more frequent on Ischia (0.070) than in Chuvashia (0.057). The haplotype of all patients matched that identified in the Chuvash cluster, thereby supporting the single-founder hypothesis. We also found that nonaffected heterozygotes had increased HIF-1alpha activity, which might confer a biochemical advantage for mutation maintenance. In conclusion, we have identified the first large cluster of Chuvash erythrocytosis outside Chuvashia, which suggests that this familial polycythemia might be endemic in other regions of the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University of Naples, Via Luigi De Crecchio, 4, Naples, Italy. silverio.perrotta@unina2.it
authors.forename: Silverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Migliaccio
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borriello
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cucciolla
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Punzo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zappia
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rotoli
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Della Ragione
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002648:Child; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D007558:Italy; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein; C497446:VHL protein, human