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D J Weatherall

Publications and source records attributed to D J Weatherall.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Interaction of hemoglobin E and pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase deficiency.

A Bangladeshi family is described in which the genes for both hemoglobin E (Hb E) and pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase deficiency are segregating. An individual homozygous for both these conditions has a severe hemolytic anemia, whereas family members who are homozygous for Hb E are asymptomatic and those homozygous for pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase deficiency have the mild hemolytic anemia that is characteristic of this disorder. Globin-chain synthesis experiments have shown that the mechanism underlying the interaction between these two genotypes is a marked decrease in the stability of Hb E in pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase-deficient red blood cells (RBCs). It has also been found that in the enzyme-deficient RBCs in which Hb E is highly unstable, free alpha-chains, though not beta E-chains, acoumulate on the membrane. In view of the increasing evidence that the hemolysis associated with pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase deficiency results not only from an increase in the level of erythrocyte pyrimidines, but also from inhibition of the hexose monophosphate shunt activity in young erythrocytes, it is likely that the marked instability of Hb E in the enzyme-deficient cells results from oxidant damage acting on a mildly unstable Hb variant. These observations may have important implications for the better understanding of the pathophysiology of Hb E/beta-thalassemia, globally the commonest important form of thalassemia.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1996

The genetics of common diseases: the implications of population variability.

The results of recent work on the inheritance of susceptibility to malaria suggest that, over what may have been a relatively short evolutionary period, a remarkably diverse series of gene families have been modified in response to the selective drive of this infectious disease. The phenotypic consequences are not confined to the erythrocyte, they also involve the immune system, cytokines and many other systems. It seems likely that the mechanisms of genetic susceptibility to current environmental agents will reflect at least a similar degree of complexity and, if the selective pressures have been present for longer periods of our evolutionary history, may be even more diverse. These issues are discussed in the light of current efforts to identify some of the major genes involved in variation in susceptibility to the common non-infectious diseases of the developed world.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Dissecting the loci controlling fetal haemoglobin production on chromosomes 11p and 6q by the regressive approach.

The changes in the type of haemoglobin (Hb) produced during embryonic, fetal and adult life, have served as a paradigm for understanding the developmental regulation of human genes. A genetically determined persistence of fetal Hb synthesis has an ameliorating effect on beta thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia, globally the commonest single gene disorders. The search for the putative gene(s) controlling the level of fetal Hb production has been extremely difficult because this trait may be influenced by several factors. We have studied a large kindred with hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH). Using a genetic mapping strategy and statistical methods that account simultaneously for the effects of several genetic factors, we have demonstrated that in addition to the two factors (beta thalassaemia and Xmn I-G gamma site) on chromosome 11p, there is a third major genetic determinant for fetal Hb production localized on chromosome 6q.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11↗
PubMed1996

Red blood cell phenotypes in the alpha + thalassaemias from early childhood to maturity.

The alpha+ thalassaemias are the most common single gene disorders of humans, yet little is known about their haematological characteristics in childhood. Blood samples have been collected randomly from more than 2000 individuals in village communities in Vanuatu in the South West Pacific and analysed for alpha thalassaemia and associated haematological changes. Here we describe the haematological effects of the alpha+ thalassaemias from early childhood through to maturity in this population. Mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) levels in individuals of normal, heterozygous and homozygous genotype differed significantly from one another throughout the entire age range (2P < 0.05). In contrast, haemoglobin levels in heterozygous and homozygous individuals were well maintained throughout development. Adults of normal genotype attain Hb levels which are indistinguishable from Caucasian reference values, a finding made all the more remarkable given the high frequency of clinical malaria in this population. It is clear from these findings that haematological data are valuable in screening for carriers of alpha+ thalassaemia in this population. MCH is clearly the most sensitive discriminator. None of the homozygous adults tested had an MCH of > 27 pg, whereas < 10% of normals had a value of < 27 pg. These data provide reference values for areas in which the alpha+ thalassaemias are common and often confused with iron-deficiency anaemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Host genetics and infectious disease.

Recent work on the inheritance of susceptibility of malaria suggests that, over what may have been a relatively short evolutionary period, a remarkably diverse series of gene families have been modified in response to the selective drive of this single infection. The phenotype consequences are not confined to the red cell, but involve the immune system, cytokines and many other systems. It seems likely that the mechanisms of variation in genetic susceptibility to other infective agents will reflect at least a similar degree of complexity and, if the selective pressures have been present for longer periods of our evolutionary history, may be even more diverse. This may have important implications for work directed at trying to define susceptibility loci for current infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Scope and limitations of gene therapy.

Although there are still many technical difficulties to be overcome, recent advances in the molecular and cellular biology of gene transfer have made it likely that gene therapy will soon start to play an increasing role in clinical practice. It will not be restricted to the management of monogenic disorders, but will have applications across many other fields of medicine, particularly the treatment of cancer and infectious disease.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1995

Thalassaemia in Vanuatu, south-west Pacific: frequency and haematological phenotypes of young children.

The archipelago of Vanuatu situated in the South-West Pacific has a high frequency of alpha + thalassaemia and additionally on some of the islands there is a high frequency of beta thalassaemia. As part of a large cohort study to investigate the clinical effect of thalassaemia on malaria on the islands of Espiritu Santo and Maewo in Vanuatu, the gene frequencies of the thalassaemias were determined and blood counts were performed on a cohort of infants from birth to 3 years. The haematological phenotypes of the different thalassaemic genotypes are compared, providing a detailed description of the clinical manifestations of alpha + thalassaemia during early development. In addition, cross-sectional surveys of the population of the two islands were performed to establish the frequency of thalassaemia and other red cell polymorphisms and their geographical distribution.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1995

Multiple glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient variants correlate with malaria endemicity in the Vanuatu archipelago (southwestern Pacific).

In studying the relationship between genetic abnormalities of red blood cells and malaria endemicity in the Vanuatu archipelago in the southwestern Pacific, we have found that of 1,442 males tested, 98 (6.8%) were G6PD deficient. The prevalence of GdPD deficiency varied widely (0%-39%), both from one island to another and in different parts of the same island, and generally correlated positively with the degree of malaria transmission. The properties of G6PD from GdPD-deficient subjects were analyzed in a subset of 53 samples. In all cases the residual red-blood-cell activity was < 10%. There were three phenotypic patterns. PCR amplification and sequencing of the entire coding region of the G6PD gene showed that the first of these patterns corresponded to G6PD Union (nucleotide 1360C-->T; amino acid 454Arg-->Cys), previously encountered elsewhere. Analysis of samples exhibiting the second pattern revealed two new mutants: G6PD Vanua Lava (nucleotide 383T-->C; amino acid 128Leu-->Pro) and G6PD Namoru (nucleotide 208T-->C; amino acid 70Tyr-->His); in three samples, the underlying mutation has not yet been identified. Analysis of the sample exhibiting the third pattern revealed another new mutant: G6PD Naone (nucleotide 497G-->A; amino acid 166Arg-->His). Of the four mutations, G6PD Union and G6PD Vanua Lava have a polymorphic frequency in more than one island; and G6PD Vanua Lava has also been detected in a sample from Papua New Guinea. G6PD deficiency is of clinical importance in Vanuatu because it is a cause of neonatal jaundice and is responsible for numerous episodes of drug-induced acute hemolytic anemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Detection of a major gene for heterocellular hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin after accounting for genetic modifiers.

"Heterocellular hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin" (HPFH) is the term used to describe the genetically determined persistence of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) production into adult life, in the absence of any related hematological disorder. Whereas some forms are caused by mutations in the beta-globin gene cluster on chromosome 11, others segregate independently. While the latter are of particular interest with respect to the regulation of globin gene switching, it has not been possible to determine their chromosomal location, mainly because their mode of inheritance is not clear, but also because several other factors are known to modify Hb F production. We have examined a large Asian Indian pedigree which includes individuals with heterocellular HPFH associated with beta-thalassemia and/or alpha-thalassemia. Segregation analysis was conducted on the HPFH trait FC, defined to be the percentage of Hb F-containing cells (F-cells), using the class D regressive model. Our results provide evidence for the presence of a major gene, dominant or codominant, which controls the FC values with residual familial correlations. The major gene was detected when the effects of genetic modifiers, notably beta-thalassemia and the XmnI-G gamma polymorphism, are accounted for in the analysis. Linkage with the beta-globin gene cluster is excluded. The transmission of the FC values in this pedigree is informative enough to allow detection of linkage with an appropriate marker(s). The analytical approach outlined in this study, using simple regression to allow for genetic modifiers and thus allowing the mode of inheritance of a trait to be dissected out, may be useful as a model for segregation and linkage analyses of other complex phenotypes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Isolation of CA dinucleotide repeats close to D6S105; linkage disequilibrium with haemochromatosis.

The gene for hereditary haemochromatosis (HC) is linked to HLA-A and D6S105 on chromosome 6p. Both markers have also been reported to display linkage disequilibrium with the disease. However, their physical localization relative to one another has not been established. We demonstrate by fluorescent in situ hybridisation that D6S105 lies at least 1-2 Mb telomeric of HLA-A. The haemochromatosis critical region extending from proximal of HLA-A to distal of D6S105 is therefore large. To improve the genetic resolution in this region more highly polymorphic markers are required. We have therefore isolated three novel CA dinucleotide repeats close to D6S105. A linkage disequilibrium study, with two of these microsatellites, in HC patients and controls lends support to the conclusion that D6S105 is a close marker to the haemochromatosis gene.

Alleles↗