Nuria Pujol-Moix

Genotype–phenotype correlation in MYH9‐related thrombocytopenia

Mutation of the non‐muscle myosin heavy chain type II‐A results in MYH9‐related hereditary macrothrombocytopenia (HMTC), including four autosomal dominant platelet disorders: May‐Hegglin anomaly (MHA), Sebastian (SBS), Fechtner (FS) and Epstein (EPS) syndrome. Denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) was optimised for rapid screening of the seven exons harbouring all but one of the previously reported mutations of MYH9. Individuals from 13 families with phenotypes suggestive of MYH9‐related HMTC were screened for mutations by DHPLC followed by direct sequencing of samples with aberrant column retention time. Mutations were identified in all 13 families. Six distinct missense heterozygous mutations were found in 10 families, including six families with MHA or SBS (E1841K, D1424N), three families with FS (R702H, R1165C, and D1424Y), and one family with EPS (S96L). A truncating mutation (R1933X) was found in three MHA families. A review of all published mutations suggests that mutation in the C‐terminal coiled coil region or truncation of the tailpiece is associated with haematological‐only phenotype, while mutation of the head ATPase domain frequently is associated with nephropathy and/or hearing loss. Mutations of other regions have intermediate expression of non‐haematological characteristics. Further study is required to confirm these associations and understand the molecular basis for this genotype–phenotype relationship.

Spectrum of the Mutations in Bernard–Soulier Syndrome

Bernard–Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder characterized by defects of the GPIb‐IX‐V complex, a platelet receptor for von Willebrand factor (VWF). Most of the mutations identified in the genes encoding for the GP1BA (GPIbα), GP1BB (GPIbβ), and GP9 (GPIX) subunits prevent expression of the complex at the platelet membrane or more rarely its interaction with VWF. As a consequence, platelets are unable to adhere to the vascular subendothelium and agglutinate in response to ristocetin. In order to collect information on BSS patients, we established an International Consortium for the study of BSS, allowing us to enrol and genotype 132 families (56 previously unreported). With 79 additional families for which molecular data were gleaned from the literature, the 211 families characterized so far have mutations in the GP1BA (28%), GP1BB (28%), or GP9 (44%) genes. There is a wide spectrum of mutations with 112 different variants, including 22 novel alterations. Consistent with the rarity of the disease, 85% of the probands carry homozygous mutations with evidence of founder effects in some geographical areas. This overview provides the first global picture of the molecular basis of BSS and will lead to improve patient diagnosis and management.

Assessment of platelet activation in several different anticoagulants by the Advia 120 Hematology System, fluorescence flow cytometry, and electron microscopy

In vivo platelet activation results are often confounded by activation induced in vitro during the preparative procedures. We measured ex vivo (basal) and in vitro (thrombin-induced) platelet activation in sodium citrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and Citrate Theophylline Dipyridamole Adenosine (CTAD) whole blood specimens. Determinations were made by measurements of platelet density (mean platelet component: MPC concentration) on the Advia 120 Hematology System. The MPC has been previously shown to correlate with a fluorescence flow cytometric method, also determined in this study, using the surface expression of CD62P. Moreover, platelet shape and structure changes in EDTA and CTAD anticoagulated whole blood specimens were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Observations made using the Advia 120 Hematology System platelet density parameter, MPC, in the absence of thrombin were 25.7 +/- 0.9 g/dl, 27.9 +/- 0.9 g/dl and 24.8 +/- 1.2 g/dl in sodium citrate, EDTA and CTAD whole blood specimens, respectively. Addition of thrombin induced a significant change in platelet MPC for sodium citrate (21.9 +/- 1.9 g/dl; p<0.0001) and EDTA (23.2 +/- 0.9 g/dl; p<0.0001) whole blood specimens. In contrast, thrombin had no effect on MPC measured in whole blood taken into CTAD tubes. In vitro fluorescence flow cytometric platelet activation experiments measuring the percentage of platelets expressing anti-CD62P showed increase in sodium citrate specimens from 9.2 +/- 7.0 to 55.5 +/- 23.1 % (p<0.0001) and in EDTA specimens from 1.9 +/- 1.7 to 64.6 +/- 12.4 % (p<0.0001) after addition of thrombin. However, in blood taken into CTAD tubes, there was no significant change. Studies on platelets isolated from whole blood in CTAD showed activation by thrombin indicating that platelets in CTAD, while protected in its presence remained functional upon its removal. When observed by TEM over time, platelets in EDTA appear more activated and contain fewer granules than platelets in CTAD. We conclude that CTAD demonstrates in vitro platelet activation inhibition and may be useful in stabilizing ex vivo platelet activation. The novel platelet activation parameter, MPC, measured by an automated routine hematology system, using customized proprietary software, may be used in conjunction with CTAD, a stabilizing anticoagulant, to measure the ex vivo platelet activation state in whole blood specimens. TEM studies verify shape modifications and simultaneous retention of intracellular granules at early post-venipuncture time periods in CTAD specimens.

Platelet diameters in inherited thrombocytopenias: analysis of 376 patients with all known disorders.

Abnormalities of platelet size are one of the distinguishing features of inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs), and evaluation of blood films is recommended as an essential step for differential diagnosis of these disorders. Nevertheless, what we presently know about this subject is derived mainly from anecdotal evidence. To improve knowledge in this field, we evaluated platelet size on blood films obtained from 376 patients with all 19 forms of IT identified so far and found that these conditions differ not only in mean platelet diameter, but also in platelet diameter distribution width and the percentage of platelets with increased or reduced diameters. On the basis of these findings, we propose a new classification of ITs according to platelet size. It distinguishes forms with giant platelets, with large platelets, with normal or slightly increased platelet size, and with normal or slightly decreased platelet size. We also measured platelet diameters in 87 patients with immune thrombocytopenia and identified cutoff values for mean platelet diameter and the percentage of platelets with increased or reduced size that have good diagnostic accuracy in differentiating ITs with giant platelets and with normal or slightly decreased platelet size from immune thrombocytopenia and all other forms of IT.

Correlation between platelet phenotype and NBEAL2 genotype in patients with congenital thrombocytopenia and α-granule deficiency

The gray platelet syndrome is a rare inherited bleeding disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and deficiency of alpha (α)-granules in platelets. The genetic defect responsible for gray platelet syndrome was recently identified in biallelic mutations in the NBEAL2 gene. We studied 11 consecutive families with inherited macrothrombocytopenia of unknown origin and α-granule deficiency. All of them underwent NBEAL2 DNA sequencing and evaluation of the platelet phenotype, including a systematic assessment of the α-granule content by immunofluorescence analysis for α-granule secretory proteins. We identified 9 novel mutations hitting the two alleles of NBEAL2 in 4 probands. They included missense, nonsense and frameshift mutations, as well as nucleotide substitutions that altered the splicing mechanisms as determined at the RNA level. All the individuals with NBEAL2 biallelic mutations showed almost complete absence of platelet α-granules. Interestingly, the 13 individuals assumed to be asymptomatic because carriers of a mutated allele had platelet macrocytosis and significant reduction of the α-granule content. However, they were not thrombocytopenic. In the remaining 7 probands, we did not identify any NBEAL2 alterations, suggesting that other genetic defect(s) are responsible for their platelet phenotype. Of note, these patients were characterized by a lower severity of the α-granule deficiency than individuals with two NBEAL2 mutated alleles. Our data extend the spectrum of mutations responsible for gray platelet syndrome and demonstrate that macrothrombocytopenia with α-granule deficiency is a genetic heterogeneous trait. In terms of practical applications, the screening of NBEAL2 is worthwhile only in patients with macrothrombocytopenia and severe reduction of the α-granules. Finally, individuals carrying one NBEAL2 mutated allele have mild laboratory abnormalities, suggesting that even haploinsufficiency has an effect on platelet phenotype.

Analysis of 339 pregnancies in 181 women with 13 different forms of inherited thrombocytopenia

Pregnancy in women with inherited thrombocytopenias is a major matter of concern as both the mothers and the newborns are potentially at risk of bleeding. However, medical management of this condition cannot be based on evidence because of the lack of consistent information in the literature. To advance knowledge on this matter, we performed a multicentric, retrospective study evaluating 339 pregnancies in 181 women with 13 different forms of inherited thrombocytopenia. Neither the degree of thrombocytopenia nor the severity of bleeding tendency worsened during pregnancy and the course of pregnancy did not differ from that of healthy subjects in terms of miscarriages, fetal bleeding and pre-term births. The degree of thrombocytopenia in the babies was similar to that in the mother. Only 7 of 156 affected newborns had delivery-related bleeding, but 2 of them died of cerebral hemorrhage. The frequency of delivery-related maternal bleeding ranged from 6.8% to 14.2% depending on the definition of abnormal blood loss, suggesting that the risk of abnormal blood loss was increased with respect to the general population. However, no mother died or had to undergo hysterectomy to arrest bleeding. The search for parameters predicting delivery-related bleeding in the mother suggested that hemorrhages requiring blood transfusion were more frequent in women with history of severe bleedings before pregnancy and with platelet count at delivery below 50 × 109/L.

MYH9 related disease: four novel mutations of the tail domain of myosin-9 correlating with a mild clinical phenotype.

MYH9‐related disease (MYH9‐RD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in MYH9, the gene encoding the heavy chain of non‐muscle myosin IIA. All patients present congenital macrothrombocytopenia and inclusion bodies in neutrophils. Some of them can also develop sensorineural deafness, presenile cataract, and/or progressive nephropathy leading to end‐stage renal failure. We report four families, each with a novel mutation: two missense mutations, in exons 31 and 32, and two out of frame deletions in exon 40. They were associated with no bleeding diathesis, normal, or only slightly reduced platelet count and no extra‐hematological manifestations, confirming that alterations of the tail domain cause a mild form of MYH9‐RD with no clinically relevant defects.

Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome in a female with skewed X-chromosome inactivation

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by immunodeficiency, eczema, and thrombocytopenia with small platelets. The phenotype of affected males is usually severe, although female carriers of the disorder have no clinical signs of the genetic defect. This is explained by the preferential selection of the normal, nonmutated X-chromosome, as the active allele in hematopoietic cells. In the present article we describe a female case of WAS, with a G-to-A transition in the WASP gene at nucleotide 291. She displays mild thrombocytopenia, with both normal and small-sized platelets. A methylation analysis of the HUMARA gene showed a nonrandom X-chromosome inactivation pattern in which the X-chromosome carrying the normal WASP gene was preferentially inactivated, leaving the mutant gene active. Thus, our results suggest that skewed X-inactivation, favoring the WASP-mutated allele, is the mechanism underlying the WAS phenotype of this girl. Moreover the results alert us to the fact that particular females, with a family history of WAS, may develop certain signs of the disease.

Influence of Age, Gender and Lifestyle in Lymphocyte Subsets: Report from the Spanish Gait-2 Study

Introduction: Flow cytometry analysis of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood is a common technique in diagnostic laboratories. Abnormal values have been identified in prevalent infections, autoimmune disorders and neoplastic diseases. Reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets of a healthy population from Spain are scarce. Methods: The study was performed on 319 healthy subjects, aged 4–88 years, from 709 individuals enrolled in the GAIT-2 Project (Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia). Health status, age, sex, fertility, BMI and lifestyle (physical activity, cigarette smoking and ethanol intake) were assessed using standardized criteria. The percentage of lymphocyte subsets was determined using flow cytometry (Lymphogram™). Percentages of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD3–CD56+, CD3+CD4–CD8– double-negative (DN) T cells, CD3+CD4+CD8+ double-positive T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were recorded for each case. Results: Children had a significantly higher percentage of CD19+ and DN cells than adults. Women had a significantly higher percentage of CD3+ and CD4+ and a lower percentage of natural killer cells than men. Increases in BMI were inversely associated with the percentage of DN cells. Physical activity increased the percentage of lymphocytes and DN cells. Alcohol consumers had a lower percentage of CD19+ and DN cells, and a higher percentage of CD4+. Conclusion: This study provides reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets of healthy children and adults in a Mediterranean population (Spain) and determines the influence of lifestyle factors on these values.

Identification of the first duplication in MYH9-related disease: a hot spot for unequal crossing-over within exon 24 of the MYH9 gene.

MYH9-related disease (MYH9RD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in MYH9, the gene encoding the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA. All patients present with congenital macrothrombocytopenia and inclusion bodies in neutrophils. Some of them can also develop sensorineural deafness, presenile cataracts, and/or progressive nephritis leading to end-stage renal failure. The spectrum of mutations so far identified is peculiar, consisting of mostly missense mutations. Others are nonsense and frameshift mutations, all localized in the COOH terminus of the protein, or in-frame deletions. We report a family with three affected members carrying a novel mutation, the first duplication (p.E1066_A1072dup), of MYH9. The mutation was localized within exon 24, where the presence of a 16 nucleotide repeat was likely to be responsible for unequal crossing-over. Of note, a deletion of the same amino acids 1066_1072 was also identified in another MHY9RD family. Since two of the four patients with the duplication or the deletion in exon 24 were affected with bilateral neonatal cataracts, we speculate that these mutations might correlate with the ocular defect, which is reported only in 16% of MYH9RD patients.