A novel 5' ATRX mutation with splicing consequences in acquired alpha thalassemia-myelodysplastic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Acquired alpha thalassemia (hemoglobin H (HbH) disease) is a rare complication of neoplastic chronic myeloid disorders, especially myelodysplastic syndrome. Acquired HbH has recently been associated with mutations in an X-linked gene, ATRX, previously linked to inherited ATR-X syndrome (alpha thalassemia-retardation-X linked).


METHODS
A Swiss man with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia complicated by various autoimmune disorders and by strikingly microcytic, hypochromic anemia was analyzed for the presence of acquired HbH. After HbH detection, we sought an underlying genetic cause. We used denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography to screen for an ATRX mutation, and measured ATRX expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The patient had 50% HbH-containing cells on supravital staining. Marrow karyotype and the alpha globin cluster were normal. A clonally-restricted ATRX point mutation was detected in the conserved splice donor motif in intron 4 (IVS 4 +2 T-->C). Plasmid vector cloning of patient ATRX cDNA demonstrated both exon 4 skipping and partial intron retention with activation of a cryptic splice site, both outcomes resulting in frameshifts with premature stop codon generation in exon 5 and near-decimation of ATRX expression in myeloid cells. Normal exon 6 alternative splicing was retained.


CONCLUSIONS
Intronic ATRX mutations with splicing consequences, uncommon in inherited ATR-X syndrome because of their devastating effect on expression of functional protein, should be routinely sought when undertaking molecular analysis of acquired HbH disease. Detection of an acquired ATRX mutation can help support clonality in karyotypically normal ambiguous myeloid disorders with HbH.
Nelson
Maria E
ME
Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Thurmes
Paul J
PJ
Hoyer
James D
JD
Steensma
David P
DP
D024506:5' Flanking Region / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D022821:RNA Splice Sites / Q000235:genetics; D000075924:X-linked Nuclear Protein; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics*
D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D004265:DNA Helicases; C092332:ATRX protein, human; D000075924:X-linked Nuclear Protein