title: Determination of haptoglobin genotype in an Iranian population with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma α2-sialoglycoprotein that contains alpha and beta chains. It displays in three common phenotypes, Hp1-1, Hp2-1, and Hp2-2. Proteins expressed by polymorphic genes have grossly different molecular sizes resulting in different diffusion rates in the brain. Haptoglobin expressed by the Hp2-2 genotype has lower hemoglobin-binding capacity than Hp1-1 or Hp2-1 and is associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine polymorphism in haptoglobin genes in patients with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic seizures, 42 men, 42 women, and 50 controls were selected for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and studied by polymerase chain reactions (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplified fragments for the Hp1-1 and Hp2-2 genotypes were 1757 and 3481 base pairs (bp) respectively, and the Hp2-1 genotype had both fragments, in addition to a 349-bp fragment. The distribution of the three major Hp phenotypes in epilepsy patients was 28.6 (1-1), 38.1 (2-1), and 33.3% (2-2) in the men, and 31 (1-1), 40.5 (2-1), and 28.6% (2-2) in the women. The distribution of Hp genotypes in controls was 22 (1-1), 40 (2-1), and 38% (2-2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show that all Hp genotypes participate in idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Al Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sukaina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Balaghee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Al Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al-Balaghee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Al Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shabani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Al Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parinaz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghadam
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Biotechnology Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bandehpour
authors.affiliation: Iranian Epilepsy Association, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Askari Mehr
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Biotechnology Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kazemi
keywords: Epilepsy; Haptoglobin; Iran