Identification of rare and novel deletions that cause (δβ)0-thalassaemia and hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin in Indian population.
OBJECTIVE
Hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin (HPFH) and (δβ)(0) -thalassaemia are conditions caused by large deletions that involve δ- and β-globin genes in the β-globin cluster, and they are characterized by increased haemoglobin (HbF) levels in adults. Significant phenotypic diversity is observed between the different mutations that cause these conditions. Molecular characterization of these deletions is important for accurate molecular diagnosis, and they will also provide the information on the cis-acting genetic regulatory elements present in the β-globin cluster.


METHODS
We performed gap-PCR, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), quantitative fluorescent multiplex PCR (QF-MPCR) and DNA sequencing to detect and characterize the deletions in the β-globin cluster.


RESULTS
We characterized six different deletions resulting in (δβ)(0) -thalassaemia or HPFH in 51 unrelated families.


CONCLUSIONS
With the help of multiple genetic tools, we performed comprehensive genetic analysis of HPFH and (δβ)(0) -thalassaemia in Indian population and could define the molecular basis of these conditions in this population. We also identified two novel HPFH mutations, 49.98 kb (HPFH-9) and 86.7 kb (HPFH-10) deletions, in this population.
Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Thiyagaraj
T
Mayuranathan
Janakiram
J
Rayabaram
Reena
R
Das
Neeraj
N
Arora
Eunice S
ES
Edison
Mammen
M
Chandy
Alok
A
Srivastava
Shaji R
SR
Velayudhan
D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D055544:beta-Globins / Q000235:genetics*
D055544:beta-Globins; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin
(δβ)0-thalassaemia; haemoglobin; hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin; mutation; β-thalassaemia