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The frequency of βS-globin haplotypes in the state of Paraná, Brazil, and clinical manifestations of sickle cell anemia

Frequência dos haplótipos da globina βS no estado do Paraná, Brasil, e manifestações clínicas em pacientes com anemia falciforme

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Haplotypes in the β S-globin cluster are named according to their geographical origin as Central African Republic (CAR), Benin (BEN), Senegal (SEN), Cameroon (CAM) and Arab-Indian. They are considered to have influence on the diversity of clinical manifestations in sickle cell anemia (HbSS).

Objective:

To identify β S haplotypes and genotypes, their frequencies and their probable association with clinical presentation in patients with sickle cell anemia in the state of Paraná.

Method:

Longitudinal and descriptive study for the definition of haplotypes, and associative study for analysis of their influence on clinical severity. By polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), polymorphic regions of 100 HbSS patients were identified. The association of haplotypes with clinical manifestations was analyzed in a subset of 52 pediatric patients.

Results:

In the state of Paraná, haplotype frequencies were: CAR: 76% BEN: 17.5% SEN: 0.5%, CAM: 0.5% and Atypical (Atp): 5.5%. Genotype frequencies were: CAR/CAR: 62%; CAR/BEN: 20%; CAR/Atp: 6%; CAR/ SEN: 1%; CAR/CAM: 1%; BEN/BEN: 6%; BEN/Atp: 3%, Atp/Atp: 1%. The average percentage of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in CAR/CAR and CAR/BEN patients was higher than in other studies. Clinical manifestations were not influenced by β S haplotypes. Dactylitis and splenic sequestration occurred more frequently in children below 3 years of age.

Conclusion:

In this study, no association was found between haplotypes and clinical manifestations, probably given the almost absolute predominance of CAR and BEN haplotypes. However, this fact alerts to the possible influence of other polymorphisms and miscegenation in the Brazilian population.

Key words:
sickle cell anemia; pediatrics; haplotypes

RESUMO

Introdução:

A variabilidade nas manifestações clínicas da anemia falciforme (HbSS) pode ser influenciada pelos haplótipos no grupamento da globina β S, nomeados de acordo com a origem geográfica: República Centro-Africana (CAR), Benin (BEN), Senegal (SEN) Camarões (CAM) e árabe-indiano.

Objetivo:

Identificar haplótipos e genótipos da globina β S, suas frequências e as possíveis associações com manifestações clínicas em pacientes com anemia falciforme no estado do Paraná.

Método:

Estudo longitudinal e descritivo na distribuição dos haplótipos e associativo na análise da influência destes sobre as manifestações clínicas. Identificaram-se as regiões polimórficas da globina β S de 100 pacientes HbSS pela técnica da polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A associação dos haplótipos com as manifestações clínicas foi analisada em um subgrupo de 52 pacientes pediátricos.

Resultados:

As frequências dos haplótipos foram CAR: 76%; BEN: 17,5%; SEN: 0,5%; CAM: 0,5% e Atípico (Atp): 5,5%. Os genótipos foram CAR/CAR: 62%; CAR/BEN: 20%; CAR/Atp: 6%; CAR/SEN: 1%; CAR/CAM: 1%; BEN/BEN: 6%; BEN/Atp: 3% e Atp/Atp: 1%. A porcentagem média de hemoglobina fetal (HbF) dos pacientes CAR/CAR e CAR/BEN foi maior que em outros estudos. Os haplótipos da globina β S não tiveram influência nas manifestações clínicas. A dactilite e o sequestro esplênico ocorreram com mais frequência nas crianças abaixo de 3 anos de idade.

Conclusão:

Na população estudada, não foi possível identificar associação dos haplótipos com as manifestações clínicas. Esse fato pode ser decorrente do predomínio quase absoluto dos haplótipos CAR e BEN, de diferentes polimorfismos e da miscigenação da população brasileira.

Unitermos:
anemia falciforme; pediatria; haplótipos

INTRODUCTION

Sickle cell anemia is characterized by hemolysis with clinical manifestations resulting from tissue hypoxia and vaso-occlusive phenomena; the severity of clinical manifestations is variable(11 Van der Tweel XW, Van der Lee JH, Heijboer H, Peters M, Fijnvandraat K. Development and validation of a pediatric severity index for sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol. 2010; 85: 746-51. Pubmed PMID: 20806231.). Still in childhood, it is difficult foreseeing the frequency and intensity of these manifestations, what brings uncertainties and insecurity to relatives regarding prognosis. In Brazil, morbidity and mortality have decreased due to early diagnosis reached by neonatal screening programs, to the prophylactic use of antibiotics against invasive bacteria, and to continuous education(22 Belisário AR. Genótipos da talassemia alfa e haplótipos do grupamento de genes da globina beta como moduladores da gravidade na doença falciforme em crianças do Programa Estadual de Triagem Neonatal de Minas Gerais, matriculadas no Hemocentro de Belo Horizonte da Fundação Hemominas [dissertation]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2010.).

The severity of clinical manifestations is attributed to the different concentrations of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) associated with the hemoglobin S (HbS) haplotypes that, historically, originated in African and Asian populations, whose nomenclature was based on geographical location: Benin (BEN), Central African Republic (CAR or Bantu), Cameroon (CAM) and Senegal (SEN), in Africa; and the Arab-Indian type or Asian, in Asia(33 Nagel RL, Erlingsson S, Fabry ME, et al. The Senegal DNA haplotype is associated with the amelioration of anemia in African-American sickle cell anemia patients. Blood. 1991; 77(6): 1371-75. Pubmed PMID: 2001460.

4 Steinberg MH. Predicting clinical severity in sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005; 129(4): 465-81. Pubmed PMID: 15877729.
-55 Lapouméroulie C, Dunda O, Ducrocq R, et al. A novel sickle cell mutation of yet another origin in Africa: the Cameron type. Hum Genet. 1992; 89(3): 333-7. PubMed PMID: 1376298.). The haplotypes can be identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)(66 Sutton M, Bouhassira EE, Nagel RL. Polymerase chain reaction amplification applied to the determination of ß-like globin gene cluster haplotype. Am J Hematol. 1989; 32(1): 66-9. PubMed PMID: 2757004.).

Patients with the CAR/CAR genotype present low HbF concentrations and more severe clinical manifestations; those with the BEN/BEN genotype, moderate HbF and clinical manifestations; those homozygous for SEN and Arab-Indian haplotypes are associated with higher HbF concentrations(33 Nagel RL, Erlingsson S, Fabry ME, et al. The Senegal DNA haplotype is associated with the amelioration of anemia in African-American sickle cell anemia patients. Blood. 1991; 77(6): 1371-75. Pubmed PMID: 2001460.,44 Steinberg MH. Predicting clinical severity in sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005; 129(4): 465-81. Pubmed PMID: 15877729.,77 Nagel RL, Fabry ME, Pagnier J, et al. Hematologically and genetically distinct forms of sickle cell anemia in Africa. The Senegal type and the Benin type. N Engl J Med. 1985; 312(14): 880-4. PubMed PMID: 2579336.) and mild clinical severity.

Considering the hypothesis that haplotypes can influence on the clinical expression of sickle cell disease(33 Nagel RL, Erlingsson S, Fabry ME, et al. The Senegal DNA haplotype is associated with the amelioration of anemia in African-American sickle cell anemia patients. Blood. 1991; 77(6): 1371-75. Pubmed PMID: 2001460.,44 Steinberg MH. Predicting clinical severity in sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005; 129(4): 465-81. Pubmed PMID: 15877729.,88 Zago MA, Figueiredo MS, Ogo SH. Bantu ßS cluster haplotype predominates among Brazilian Blacks. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1992; 88(3): 295-8. PubMed PMID: 1642317.

9 Powars D, Meiseman HJ, Fisher TC, Hiti A, Johnson C. ßS gene cluster haplotypes modulate hematologic and hemorheologic expression in sickle cell anemia. Use in predicting clinical severity. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1994; 16(1): 55-61. PubMed PMID: 7508688.
-1010 Sarnaik SA, Ballas SK. Molecular characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia and stroke. Am J Hematol. 2001; 67(3): 179-82. Pubmed PMID: 11391715.), the objective of the present work was to determine the β S-globin haplotypes, their frequencies and association with clinical manifestations in patients with sickle cell disease in the state of Paraná.

METHOD

The study was longitudinal, descriptive and analytical in the definition and frequency of β S-globin haplotypes, and associative in the assessment of haplotype influence on clinical severity. Between March 2011 and January 2014, blood samples were consecutively collected from 100 patients with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) in Curitiba, treated at the outpatient clinics of pediatric hematology of Hospital de Clínicas (HC) of Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) (n = 52), and of outpatients clinics of hemoglobinopathy of the coordinating blood center of the state of Paraná – Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Paraná (Hemepar) (n = 48). Genotyping of β S-globin haplotypes was performed at Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (Cegempac). Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from records of 52 children treated at HC, born in the state of Paraná, who were not on hydroxyurea during the research. The information had been extracted according the consultation protocol for patients with sickle cell anemia in the latest 16 years. Adult patients of Hemepar, who were on hydroxyurea, were just genotyped.

The project was approved by the research ethics committee of HC/UFPR. Participation in the study occurred after signature of the free consent term by the patient and/or legal representative.

The diagnosis of sickle cell anemia was defined through cellulose acetate alkaline electrophoresis, measurement of hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) with elution, and determination of HbF percentage by the alkali-resistance Singer-Chernoff technique. The values considered for analysis were those obtained from patients over 1 year of age, to avoid the influence of physiological variations that happen with this parameter in the first year of life. The assessed clinical manifestations were: cerebrovascular accident (CVA), painful crises, dactylitis, lung diseases, urinary tract infections, and splenic sequestration. The analyzed hematological parameters were: Hb (g/dl), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (fl), leukocyte count (cells/mm3), platelet count (cells/mm3), reticulocytes (%), and HbF (%), collected from patients at baseline. Blood samples were collected in filter paper and dried at room temperature(1111 Manual de normas técnicas e rotinas operacionais do Programa Nacional de Triagem Neonatal. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2005. p. 18-22. Available at: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/triagem_neonatal.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...
). From the leukocyte-extracted deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), polymorphisms in β S-globin were identified by the PCR-RFLP technique. Regions of β S-globin cluster were amplified: 5'γ G, γ G, γ A, φ, 3'φβ, 5'β. The polymorphic fragments obtained by the activity of restriction enzymes XmnI, HindIII, HincII and HinfI (Fermentas, Promega)(6) were analyzed according to a pre-established protocol. The undefined haplotypes were analyzed with enzymes HincII, AvaII and BamHI for polymorphisms in regions ε, β and 3'β, respectively(55 Lapouméroulie C, Dunda O, Ducrocq R, et al. A novel sickle cell mutation of yet another origin in Africa: the Cameron type. Hum Genet. 1992; 89(3): 333-7. PubMed PMID: 1376298.,1212 Orkin SH, Kazazian JR HH, Antonarakis SE, et al. Linkage of ß-thalassaemia mutations and ß-globin gene polymorphisms with DNA polymorphisms in human ß-globin gene cluster. Nature. 1982; 296: 627-31. PubMed PMID: 6280057.,1313 Guerreiro JF, Figueiredo MS, Santos SEB, Zago MA. ß gene cluster haplotypes in Yanomama Indians from the Amazon region of Brazil. Hum Genet. 1992; 89(6): 629-31. PubMed PMID: 1511980.), and considered atypical (Atp).

In order to assess the association of clinical manifestations with age, the patient cohort was divided into two: group 1, made of children aged 0-3 years (n = 52); and group 2, of children older than 3 up to 15,9 years of age (n = 46). Group 2 children are also represented in group 1, but in distinct chronological moments. Among the 52 children, five of group 1 and one of group 2 presented no clinical manifestation until the moment of analysis. The cut-off point at 3 years of age was defined by a quote from the literature about higher frequency of dactylitis in children up to that age(1414 Miller ST, Sleeper LA, Pegelow CH, et al. Prediction of adverse outcomes in children with sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2000; 342(2): 83-9. Pubmed PMID: 10631276.).

Statistical analysis

Clinical and laboratory data underwent statistical treatment with the program Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were carried out, considering the significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). Parametric and non-parametric tests were employed according to data normality.

RESULTS

The frequencies of β S-globin haplotypes in the state of Paraná were: 76% CAR; 17.5% BEN; 0.5 % SEN; 0.5% CAM and 5.5% Atp. The frequencies of genotypes were: 62% CAR/CAR; 20% CAR/BEN; 6% BEN/BEN and CAR/Atp; 3% BEN/Atp; and 1% CAR/SEN, CAR/ CAM and Atp/Atp.

Of the 52 children, 24 (46%) were males, and 28 (54%), females. The median age was 92.5 months (17-191 months). The Figure presents the distribution of children according to age, during the analysis of clinical manifestations.

Figure
Distribution of patients with sickle cell anemia according to age

Ordinate number of patients in each age, during the analysis; abscissa: age of patients in years.


The verified laboratory parameters (mean + standard deviation) were: Hb = 7.33 ± 0.76 g/dl; MCV = 87.01 ± 6.96 fl; leukocyte count = 15,298 ± 4,088/mm3; platelet count: 484,182 ± 147,551/mm3; reticulocytes = 17.3% ± 5.57%; HbF = 12% ± 7.25%. Table 1 presents the values of these parameters for the different haplotypes.

TABLE 1
Laboratory parameters × β S-globin haplotypes according to genotypes (n = 52)

Dactylitis (p < 0.001) and splenic sequestration (p = 0.001) were more frequent in the group of children up to 3 years of age, while cardiac alterations, in children over 3 years (p = 0.05). Occurrences of CVA (p = 0.16), painful crises (p = 0.104) and lung diseases (p = 0.547) were not influenced by age (Table 2).

TABLE 2
Clinical manifestations according to age group

Except for CVA, clinical manifestations were not associated with genotypes (Table 3).

TABLE 3
Sickle cell genotypes and clinical manifestations

The HbF mean of CAR/CAR genotype was significantly lower than the HbF mean of CAR/BEN genotype (Table 4).

TABLE 4
Comparison among HbF values in the different SS genotypes in the state of Paraná

DISCUSSION

The predominance of CAR (76%) haplotype, followed by BEN (17.5%), in the state of Paraná, is similar to the results found in South and Southeast Regions of Brazil. In Triângulo Mineiro, a region of Minas Gerais, the frequency of CAR haplotype was 64.8% and 22.1% of BEN(1515 Leal AS, Martins PR, Balarin MAS, Pereira GA, Resende GAD. Haplotypes ßs globin and its clinical-haematological correlation in patients with sickle cell anemia in Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2016; 52(1): 6-10. On-line version ISSN 1678-4774.); in Ribeirão Preto, 66.2% of CAR and 23% of BEN(88 Zago MA, Figueiredo MS, Ogo SH. Bantu ßS cluster haplotype predominates among Brazilian Blacks. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1992; 88(3): 295-8. PubMed PMID: 1642317.); in the city of São Paulo, 55% of CAR and 34% of BEN(1616 Lyra IM, Gonçalves MS, Braga JAP, et al. Caracterização clínica, hematológica e molecular de crianças portadoras de anemia falciforme em duas diferentes cidades do Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública. 2005; 21(4): 1287-90. Pubmed PMID: 15726590.); in Rio de Janeiro, 72.9% of CAR and 20.3% of BEN(1717 Okumura JV, Lobo CLC, Bonini-Domingos CR. Beta-S globin haplotypes in patients with sickle cell anemia: one approach to understand the diversity in Brazil. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2013; 35(1): 71-2. PubMed PMID: 23580889.); and in Rio Grande do Sul, 66% of CAR and 27% of BEN(1818 Silva MAL, Friedrisch JR, Bittar CM, et al. ß-Globin gene cluster haplotypes and clinical severity in sickle cell anemia patients in Southern Brazil. OJBD. 2014; 4: 16-23. DOI: 104236OJBD201442003.
https://doi.org/104236OJBD201442003...
).

On the other hand, greater representation of the BEN haplotype is observed in Salvador (55.2%)(1919 Adorno EV, Zanette A, Lyra L, Seixas MO, Reis MG, Gonçalves MS. Clinical and molecular characteristics of sickle cell anemia in the northeast of Brazil. Genet Mol Biol. 2008; 31(3): 621-5. On-line version ISSN: 1678-4685.,2020 Silva WS, Klautau-Guimarães MN, Grisolia CK. ß-globin haplotypes in normal and hemoglobinopathic individuals from Recôncavo Baiano, State of Bahia, Brazil. Genet Mol Biol. 2010; 33(3): 411-7. Pubmed PMC: 3036130.), in Recôncavo Baiano (52.9%)(2020 Silva WS, Klautau-Guimarães MN, Grisolia CK. ß-globin haplotypes in normal and hemoglobinopathic individuals from Recôncavo Baiano, State of Bahia, Brazil. Genet Mol Biol. 2010; 33(3): 411-7. Pubmed PMC: 3036130.), and in Ceará (43.2%)(2121 Galiza-Neto GC, Pitombeira MS, Vieira HF, Vieira MLC, Farias DAB. Análise dos haplótipos do gene da ßS-globina no Ceará. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2005; 41(5): 315-21. On-line version ISSN: 1678-4774.). The frequency of HbS haplotypes in the different regions of the country reflects the flow of enslaved Africans in the Brazil of the 18th and 19th centuries. Salvador and Rio de Janeiro served as their ports of entry. Those born in the region of Benin, northwest of the African country, arrived in Brazil at the port of Salvador, causing a higher frequency of the BEN haplotype in the North Region of the country. Those born in the present-day Central African Republic arrived in Brazil also through Salvador, but their most frequent entry port was Rio de Janeiro. Later on, they were taken to São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, besides Espírito Santo and north of Rio de Janeiro(2222 Florentino M, Ribeiro AV, Silva DD. Aspectos comparativos do tráfico de africanos para o Brasil (séculos XVIII e XIX). Afro-Asia. 2004; 31: 83-126. ISSN: 1981-1411.), justifying the higher frequency of the CAR haplotype in the South and Southeast Regions of the Brazil.

Among the clinical manifestations, it was possible to identify that dactylitis (51%) and splenic sequestration (27.6%) happened most frequently up to 3 years of age (p < 0.001) (Table 2), as expected(1414 Miller ST, Sleeper LA, Pegelow CH, et al. Prediction of adverse outcomes in children with sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2000; 342(2): 83-9. Pubmed PMID: 10631276.,2323 Quinn CT. Sickle cell disease in childhood: from newborn screening through transition to adult medical care. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013; 60(6): 1363-81. Pubmed PMID: 24237976.). There is a downward bias in identifying manifestations specific of the age group older than 3 years, because some children who at 5 years, for example, still did not present cardiac alterations, can present them in the subsequent years.

No difference was observed on clinical manifestation among haplotypes. One explanation can be the small number of patients with homozygous genotype different from CAR/CAR, with BEN/BEN being just 6%. The CAR haplotype, present in 90% of genotypes, can have promoted the occurrence of more severe clinical manifestations, compatible with CAR. Silva Filho et al. (2012)(2424 Silva Filho IL, Ribeiro GS, Moura PG, Vechi ML, Cavalcante AC, Andrada-Serpa MJ. Sickle cell disease: acute clinical manifestations in early childhood and molecular characteristics in a group of children in Rio de Janeiro. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2012; 34(3): 196-201. Pubmed PMID: 23049419.) also found no clinical association with type of haplotype in the studied population.

The presence of α -thalassemia, which could interfere with prognosis, was not analyzed in this study. However, in the population with sickle cell disease in Paraná, its frequency is just 9.67% [Tormen (2015), data not published], with low probability of altering the observed results.

Higher concentrations of HbF protect patients because they inhibit HbS polymerization, attenuating clinical manifestations(33 Nagel RL, Erlingsson S, Fabry ME, et al. The Senegal DNA haplotype is associated with the amelioration of anemia in African-American sickle cell anemia patients. Blood. 1991; 77(6): 1371-75. Pubmed PMID: 2001460.,2525 Fleury MK. Haplótipos do cluster da globina beta em pacientes com anemia falciforme no Rio de Janeiro: aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais. Rev Bras Anal Clin. 2007; 39(2): 89-93. ISSN 0370-369 X.

26 Costa PJMS, Vilela RQB, Cipolotti R, Figueiredo MS. Diversidade clínica e laboratorial no haplótipo Bantu da anemia falciforme. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2006; 28(1): 40-4. ISSN: 1806-0870.
-2727 Zago MA, Silva Pinto AC. Fisiopatologia das doenças falciformes: da mutação genética à insuficiência de múltiplos órgãos. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2007; 29(3): 207-14. On-line version ISSN: 1806-0870.). In this study, CAR/CAR children (n = 32) presented lower mean HbF (9.6 ± 6.54) (Table 1) than the patients of group SS (12 ± 7.25) (p < 0.001), but there was no association of HbF levels with the type of assessed clinical manifestations.

The only identified tendency in this series of patients was the greater occurrence of CVA in CAR/Atp patients (p = 0.047), data similar to those described by Sarnaik and Ballas(1010 Sarnaik SA, Ballas SK. Molecular characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia and stroke. Am J Hematol. 2001; 67(3): 179-82. Pubmed PMID: 11391715.). In 41 children, whose first CVA happened in the age group of 5.6 ± 3.2 years, the greatest frequency of the event occurred in those who had at least one Atp allele (1010 Sarnaik SA, Ballas SK. Molecular characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia and stroke. Am J Hematol. 2001; 67(3): 179-82. Pubmed PMID: 11391715.). Deletions of the α globin chain reduced the occurrence of CVA for they inhibited formation of intracellular polymers; excess of these α chains could be a risk factor for this event(1010 Sarnaik SA, Ballas SK. Molecular characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia and stroke. Am J Hematol. 2001; 67(3): 179-82. Pubmed PMID: 11391715.). In the state of Rio de Janeiro, children with the CAR/Atp genotype, with mean age of 6.6 years (3.2-15 years), had 15 times more chance [odds ratio (OR) = 15.4] to present CVA than those with other genotypes, but the α globin chains did not influence the event occurrence(2828 Silva Filho IL, Leite ACCB, Moura PG, et al. Genetic polymorphisms and cerebrovascular disease in children with sickle cell anemia from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2011; 69(3): 431-5. Pubmed PMID: 21755116.). The association of CVA with the CAR/Atp haplotype in the state of Paraná must be assessed carefully, given the small size of the sample (n = 4).

The high average HbF levels in CAR/CAR and CAR/BEN patients are noteworthy, as demonstrated in Table 5, in contrast to initial publications, which characterized these genotypes as more severe for the low HbF levels(77 Nagel RL, Fabry ME, Pagnier J, et al. Hematologically and genetically distinct forms of sickle cell anemia in Africa. The Senegal type and the Benin type. N Engl J Med. 1985; 312(14): 880-4. PubMed PMID: 2579336.,99 Powars D, Meiseman HJ, Fisher TC, Hiti A, Johnson C. ßS gene cluster haplotypes modulate hematologic and hemorheologic expression in sickle cell anemia. Use in predicting clinical severity. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1994; 16(1): 55-61. PubMed PMID: 7508688.).

TABLE 5
HbF in HbSS patients from different Brazilian states

In order to explain such discrepancies, the following hypotheses are proposed:

  • higher HbF values can be associated with polymorphisms found in the β S-CAR-globin cluster, called atypical CAR(3333 Naoum PC, Naoum FA. Doenças das células falciformes. 1 ed. São Paulo: Sarvier; 2004.). Srinivas et al. (1988) identified seven subtypes of CAR haplotypes in patients from the Central African Republic: Bantu A1, Bantu A2, Bantu A3, Bantu A4, Bantu A5, Bantu A6 and Bantu A7(3434 Srinivas R, Dunda O, Krishnamoorthy R, et al. Atypical haplotypes linked to the ßS gene in Africa are likely to be the product of recombination. Am J Hematol. 1988; 29: 60-2. PubMed PMID: 3177370.). These subtypes showed strong correlation between the percentage of γG and HbF (r = 0.093, p < 0.000001). In that study, the Bantu A4 haplotype with γG levels higher than 50% presented HbF of up to 30%(3434 Srinivas R, Dunda O, Krishnamoorthy R, et al. Atypical haplotypes linked to the ßS gene in Africa are likely to be the product of recombination. Am J Hematol. 1988; 29: 60-2. PubMed PMID: 3177370.). Eventually, in Iran, five types of CAR haplotypes were identified: Bantu A1, A2, A2a, A4, A6; associated with the Arab-Indian haplotype, presented high concentrations of HbF (27.83 ± 12.32)(3535 Rahimi Z, Karimi M, Haghshenass M, Merat A. ß-globin gene cluster haplotypes in sickle cell patients from southwest Iran. Am J Hematol. 2003; 74(3): 156-60. PubMed PMID: 14587041.);

  • polymorphisms in the locus control region of HS2 of different haplotypes can modify HbF levels for a certain genotype(22 Belisário AR. Genótipos da talassemia alfa e haplótipos do grupamento de genes da globina beta como moduladores da gravidade na doença falciforme em crianças do Programa Estadual de Triagem Neonatal de Minas Gerais, matriculadas no Hemocentro de Belo Horizonte da Fundação Hemominas [dissertation]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2010.), as verified in CAR/CAR, CAR/BEN and BEN/BEN patients with high HbF(22 Belisário AR. Genótipos da talassemia alfa e haplótipos do grupamento de genes da globina beta como moduladores da gravidade na doença falciforme em crianças do Programa Estadual de Triagem Neonatal de Minas Gerais, matriculadas no Hemocentro de Belo Horizonte da Fundação Hemominas [dissertation]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2010.,1919 Adorno EV, Zanette A, Lyra L, Seixas MO, Reis MG, Gonçalves MS. Clinical and molecular characteristics of sickle cell anemia in the northeast of Brazil. Genet Mol Biol. 2008; 31(3): 621-5. On-line version ISSN: 1678-4685.,3232 Gonçalves MS, Bonfim GC, Maciel E, et al. ßS-haplotypes in sickle cell anemia patients from Salvador, Bahia, Northeastern, Brazil. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2003; 36(10): 1283-8. PubMed PMID: 14502357.). The analysis of these polymorphisms and the determination of γG concentrations in HbSS patients in the state of Paraná, in the genotypes that presented higher HbF, could be a tool for understanding biomolecular mechanisms;

  • polymorphisms in other regions of the β S-globin gene also influenced the increase in HbF(2828 Silva Filho IL, Leite ACCB, Moura PG, et al. Genetic polymorphisms and cerebrovascular disease in children with sickle cell anemia from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2011; 69(3): 431-5. Pubmed PMID: 21755116.,3636 Thein SL, Menzel S, Lathrop M, Garner C. Control of fetal hemoglobin: new insights emerging from genomics and clinical implications. Hum Mol Genet. 2009; 18(2): 216-23. Pubmed PMID: 19808799.), what was deduced from the observation of carriers of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin(3636 Thein SL, Menzel S, Lathrop M, Garner C. Control of fetal hemoglobin: new insights emerging from genomics and clinical implications. Hum Mol Genet. 2009; 18(2): 216-23. Pubmed PMID: 19808799.). Thein et al. (2009) suggested that the quantitative trait loci (QTL) XmnI-HB-G2, linked to the β S-globin gene, could be associated with severity of the disease, as well as genes not related to its cluster, such as HBS1L-MYB (6q23) and BCL11A (2p)(3636 Thein SL, Menzel S, Lathrop M, Garner C. Control of fetal hemoglobin: new insights emerging from genomics and clinical implications. Hum Mol Genet. 2009; 18(2): 216-23. Pubmed PMID: 19808799.,3737 Belini Jr. E, Cançado RD, Domingos CRB. The XmnI polymorphic site 5' to the gene ?G in a Brazilian patient with sickle cell anaemia-fetal hemoglobin concentration, haematology and clinical features. Arch Med Sci. 2010; 6(5): 822-5. PubMed PMID: 22419945.). Recently, association was demonstrated between genes HBS1L-MYB and BCL11A and high levels of HbF in Cameroon patients with CAM haplotypes(3838 Bitoungui VJ, Pule GD, Hanchard N, Ngogang J, Wonkam A. Betaglobin gene haplotypes among Cameroonians and review of the global distribution: is there a case for a single sickle mutation origin in Africa? OMICS: a Journal of Integrative Biology. 2015; 19(3): 171-9. Pubmed PMID: 25748438.), confirming the hypothesis that alterations in different genes can influence clinical manifestations in sickle cell anemia(44 Steinberg MH. Predicting clinical severity in sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005; 129(4): 465-81. Pubmed PMID: 15877729.).

In the initial researches carried out among native Africans, patients homozygous for the SEN haplotype presented mild clinical picture, particularly in relation to hemolysis and high HbF(33 Nagel RL, Erlingsson S, Fabry ME, et al. The Senegal DNA haplotype is associated with the amelioration of anemia in African-American sickle cell anemia patients. Blood. 1991; 77(6): 1371-75. Pubmed PMID: 2001460.). In the present work, the only child with SEN haplotype is heterozygous, presenting the genotype CAR/SEN and the following laboratory results: Hb = 7.57 g/dl, HbF = 12.3%, HbA2 = 2.1%; reticulocytes = 22.1% and MCV = 90.5 fl. Hospitalized at an intensive care unit (ICU), the patient needed exchange transfusions. These results show a severe clinical picture.

In a group of 60 SS Afro-American adult patients, with at least one of the SEN haplotypes, the laboratory tests (mean ± standard deviation) were: Hb (9.6 ± 1.1 g/dl), MCV (91.2 ± 9.2 fl) and HbF (9.9% ± 5.4%)(33 Nagel RL, Erlingsson S, Fabry ME, et al. The Senegal DNA haplotype is associated with the amelioration of anemia in African-American sickle cell anemia patients. Blood. 1991; 77(6): 1371-75. Pubmed PMID: 2001460.). In Rio de Janeiro, a CAR/SEN patient aged 3 years presented HbF = 21.6%; another, a BEN/SEN aged 17 years, HbF = 6.8%(2525 Fleury MK. Haplótipos do cluster da globina beta em pacientes com anemia falciforme no Rio de Janeiro: aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais. Rev Bras Anal Clin. 2007; 39(2): 89-93. ISSN 0370-369 X.). In Ceará(2121 Galiza-Neto GC, Pitombeira MS, Vieira HF, Vieira MLC, Farias DAB. Análise dos haplótipos do gene da ßS-globina no Ceará. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2005; 41(5): 315-21. On-line version ISSN: 1678-4774.), an adult patient with BEN/SEN genotype presented Hb = 8.9 g/dl, HbF = 13.4% and MCV = 92 fl, values similar to those of the child in the present study. One can observe, therefore, that heterozygosity modifies the expression of the SEN haplotype, traditionally considered to induce mild clinical manifestations.

In the countries where heterozygosity predominates for the different haplotypes, and miscegenation is the rule, the association between haplotype and clinical severity becomes less clear(44 Steinberg MH. Predicting clinical severity in sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005; 129(4): 465-81. Pubmed PMID: 15877729.,3030 Belisário AR, Martins ML, Brito AMS, Rodrigues CV, Silva CM, Viana MB. ß-globin gene cluster haplotypes in a cohort of 221 children with sickle cell anemia or Sß0-thalassemia and their association with clinical and hematological features. Acta Hematol. 2010; 124(3): 162-70. Pubmed PMID: 20938172.). On the other hand, the prognosis of clinical morbidity cannot be given just based on haplotypes(99 Powars D, Meiseman HJ, Fisher TC, Hiti A, Johnson C. ßS gene cluster haplotypes modulate hematologic and hemorheologic expression in sickle cell anemia. Use in predicting clinical severity. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1994; 16(1): 55-61. PubMed PMID: 7508688.,1414 Miller ST, Sleeper LA, Pegelow CH, et al. Prediction of adverse outcomes in children with sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 2000; 342(2): 83-9. Pubmed PMID: 10631276.,3030 Belisário AR, Martins ML, Brito AMS, Rodrigues CV, Silva CM, Viana MB. ß-globin gene cluster haplotypes in a cohort of 221 children with sickle cell anemia or Sß0-thalassemia and their association with clinical and hematological features. Acta Hematol. 2010; 124(3): 162-70. Pubmed PMID: 20938172.) and HbF(3838 Bitoungui VJ, Pule GD, Hanchard N, Ngogang J, Wonkam A. Betaglobin gene haplotypes among Cameroonians and review of the global distribution: is there a case for a single sickle mutation origin in Africa? OMICS: a Journal of Integrative Biology. 2015; 19(3): 171-9. Pubmed PMID: 25748438.). Other genetic factors must be involved, interfering in clinical expression(44 Steinberg MH. Predicting clinical severity in sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005; 129(4): 465-81. Pubmed PMID: 15877729.,1818 Silva MAL, Friedrisch JR, Bittar CM, et al. ß-Globin gene cluster haplotypes and clinical severity in sickle cell anemia patients in Southern Brazil. OJBD. 2014; 4: 16-23. DOI: 104236OJBD201442003.
https://doi.org/104236OJBD201442003...
,2424 Silva Filho IL, Ribeiro GS, Moura PG, Vechi ML, Cavalcante AC, Andrada-Serpa MJ. Sickle cell disease: acute clinical manifestations in early childhood and molecular characteristics in a group of children in Rio de Janeiro. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2012; 34(3): 196-201. Pubmed PMID: 23049419.,3030 Belisário AR, Martins ML, Brito AMS, Rodrigues CV, Silva CM, Viana MB. ß-globin gene cluster haplotypes in a cohort of 221 children with sickle cell anemia or Sß0-thalassemia and their association with clinical and hematological features. Acta Hematol. 2010; 124(3): 162-70. Pubmed PMID: 20938172.) of sickle cell anemia.

Thus, in the patients studied in the state of Paraná, predominance of CAR and BEN haplotypes, the lack of association with the type of clinical manifestations, and the possible influence of miscegenation suggest the need to extend molecular studies, aiming at the comprehension of clinical variability in sickle cell diseases.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Paraná for the sponsorship.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Jan-Feb 2017

History

  • Received
    19 Sept 2016
  • Reviewed
    10 Nov 2016
  • Accepted
    08 Dec 2016
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