title: Molecular demonstration of SLC4A1 gene deletion in two Mexican patients with Southeast Asian ovalocytosis.
abstract: We describe the finding of two Mexican patients with a specific 27-bp deletion in the solute carrier family 4 gene (SLC4A1delta27) (also known as the band 3 gene found on chromosome 17q21-q22), characteristic of Southeast Asian ovalocytosis (SAO). The patients were asymptomatic, and the initial diagnosis was made by microscopic observation of the presence of typical stomatocytic ovalocytes. The gene deletion was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Both patients were heterozygous for the deletion. One patient is from Tabasco state, in southeastern Mexico, a malaria-endemic zone. The other patient is from Mexico City, which is not a malaria-endemic area. Their families have no non-Mexican ancestors and their previous generations were born in Mexico. Both patients carry the HLA-B*3501 subtype, characteristic of Amerindians and Asian populations. Familial and HLA data led us to conclude that these two patients are the first report of SLC4A1delta27 in Amerindians. The nucleotide analysis showing a perfect match sequence between Southeast Asian and Mexican patients suggests, but does not prove, that the Mexican gene is not a de novo mutation. Instead, this gene might be the result of migration of individuals with Asian ancestry into the Mexican gene pool. We are looking for other families with the mutation to detect, by HLA analysis, the ancient ethnic origin of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos-Kuri
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carrillo Farga
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zúñiga
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Amador Guerrero
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Estrada
mesh_terms: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte / Q000235:genetics*; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D001483:Base Sequence; D004612:Elliptocytosis, Hereditary / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D008967:Molecular Biology
chemical_list: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; C454201:SLC4A1 protein, human