Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I R Peake

Publications and source records attributed to I R Peake.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Factor VIII gene rearrangements in patients with severe haemophilia A.

Sequences within intron 22 of the factor VIII (FVIII) gene have been implicated in the cause of haemophilia in almost 50% of severely affected patients. The changes result from intrachromosomal rearrangements of the tip of the long arm of the X chromosome, one break-point being within intron 22 of the FVIII gene. The rearrangements can be identified by Southern blot and we report use of this procedure to detect rearrangements in 11 of 23 unrelated families with severe haemophilia A. Of 22 patients studied, none of the 10 with the gene rearrangement had at any time developed inhibitors to FVIII, compared with 7 of 12 lacking the rearrangement.

Adult↗

A comparison of the allelic frequencies of ten DNA polymorphisms associated with factor VIII and factor IX genes in Thai and Western European populations.

The frequency of five factor VIII gene intragenic and linked DNA polymorphisms and five factor IX gene intragenic polymorphisms was studied in Thai females. The polymorphisms in the FVIII gene were detected by restriction enzymes BclI, XbaI, BglI and at linked loci DX13 (DXS15) and St14 (DXS52) by BglII and TaqI, respectively, and in the FIX gene by MseI, DdeI, XmnI, TaqI and HhaI. With the exception of the BglI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), which is absent in Thais, factor VIII polymorphism frequencies were similar in Thais and Caucasians. Combined use of XbaI and TaqI/St14 resulted in a heterozygosity rate of greater than 90% in Thai females. For FIX, the recently described MseI RFLP in the 5' flanking region was the most informative polymorphism in Thais, 43% of females being heterozygous. The other four polymorphisms added little to the overall heterozygosity rate. The appropriate polymorphisms were used to track defective factor VIII and IX genes through 22 Thai pedigrees with haemophilia to enable carrier status to be assigned to female family members. The information obtained during this study will form the basis for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A and B by DNA polymorphism analysis in Thailand.

Alleles↗

Peripheral mononuclear cells of haemophiliacs with chronic liver disease are infected with replicating hepatitis C virus.

Most haemophiliacs treated with non-virally inactivated concentrates have been infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). 19/21 (90%) patients with HCV antibody were found to have HCV RNA in their serum and in 16 of these it was also detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We used specific primers to detect the negative (replicative) strand of this single positively stranded virus. The negative strand was detected in the serum or PBMC of 16 patients indicating active replication outside the liver. The detection of replicating HCV RNA in the cells of HIV negative haemophiliacs could explain at least some of the immunological abnormalities previously reported in these patients and attributed to clotting factor concentrates.

Chronic Disease↗

High prevalence of a mutation in the factor V gene within the U.K. population: relationship to activated protein C resistance and familial thrombosis.

Recent findings have indicated the importance of factor V (FV) in causing resistance to activated protein C (APC) in a high proportion of patients with venous thrombosis. This prompted us to investigate whether resistance could be due to defective inactivation of FVa by APC. Consequently, we amplified a 3.2 kb fragment of the FV gene sequence encoding the heavy chain APC cleavage site. DNA analysis showed a guanine to adenine transition at nucleotide 1691 in all affected members of two families with inherited APC resistance associated with thrombosis and confirmed suspected homozygosity in two individuals. The mutation, in heterozygous form, was also found in approximately 3.5% of our normal population (n = 144) and correlated with low APC resistance. The high prevalence of this mutation suggests that it may be a major contributory factor in early thrombosis.

Base Sequence↗

A single base pair deletion in the promoter region of the factor IX gene is associated with haemophilia B.

Patients with the haemophilia B Leyden phenotype show a distinct pattern of factor IX expression characterized by a post-pubertal increase in FIX levels and the remission of clinical symptoms in adult life. This phenotype has previously been linked to single base mutations within transcription factor binding sites in a region of approximately 40 bp around the major start point of transcription of the FIX gene. Here we report a novel mutation in this region within the transcription factor C/EBP binding site at +1 to +18. The mutation is a single base pair deletion from a triplet of thymine residues at +6 to +8. We show that the extent to which this mutation disrupts the binding of C/EBP to its binding site is less marked than the disruption caused by the +13 A-->G mutation of FIX Norwich (1). This correlates with age-matched phenotypic data we have available for the patient reported here and that of FIX Norwich.

Base Composition↗

An MseI RFLP in the 5' flanking region of the factor IX gene: its use for haemophilia B carrier detection in Caucasian and Thai populations.

We have identified an MseI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the 5' flanking region of the factor IX gene. RFLPs in the factor IX locus are routinely used as linkage markers to track defective factor IX genes through affected pedigrees, allowing diagnosis of the haemophilia B carrier state in female members of the kindred. Currently, seven intragenic polymorphic loci have been characterized allowing carrier diagnosis in 89% of cases in the Caucasian population. Additional screening with the MseI RFLP reported in this publication increases this figure to 94% of cases. In Asian populations only one of these RFLPs (HhaI) is present at any significant frequency. Hence, carrier detection rates are much reduced in comparison to the corresponding figure of 89% in Caucasians. We report that this MseI RFLP is also present in the Thai population. Indeed, when used in combination with the HhaI polymorphism, the MseI RFLP should significantly improve the carrier detection rate in the Thai population from 11% to 40% of cases.

Alleles↗

Haemophilia: strategies for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis.

In 1977 WHO published in the Bulletin a Memorandum on Methods for the Detection of Haemophilia Carriers. This was produced following a WHO/WFH (World Federation of Haemophilia) Meeting of Investigators in Geneva in November 1976, and has served as a valuable reference article on the genetics of haemophilia. The analyses discussed were based on phenotypic assessment, which, at that time, was the only procedure available. The molecular biology revolution in genetics during the 1980s made enormous contributions to our understanding of the molecular basis of the haemophilias and now permits precise carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. WHO and WFH held a joint meeting on this subject in February 1992 in Geneva. This article is the result of these discussions.

Base Sequence↗

The relationship of HIV-1 viral sequences detected by the polymerase chain reaction in haemophilic patients to clinical and other markers of infection.

A nested primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of pol gene sequences of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) was applied to whole blood of 31 haemophiliacs who were, or had been, positive for HIV p24 antibody (HIVAb) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and samples from 22 persistently HIVAb negative haemophiliacs who had been at risk of contracting HIV from treatment. The results were compared with those of p24 HIV antigen determination, T4 cell counts beta 2 Microglobulin (beta 2M) levels and clinical evidence of progression of HIV disease. There was no discrepancy between the PCR results and past or present seropositivity for HIVAb. The qualitative PCR was more sensitive than the p24 antigen assay but the presence of the latter was predictive of progression of infection as determined clinically and by falling T4 cell counts and rising levels of beta 2M. The results of the PCR are reassuring for HIVAb negative haemophiliacs at risk from treatment and to HIVAb negative sexual contacts of HIVAb positive persons.

Adult↗

Haemophilia A: database of nucleotide substitutions, deletions, insertions and rearrangements of the factor VIII gene.

Mutations at the factor VIII gene locus causing Haemophilia A have now been identified in many patients from many ethnic groups. Earlier studies used biased methods which detected repetitive mutations at a few CG dinucleotides. More recently rapid gene scanning methods have uncovered an extreme diversity of mutations. Over 80 different point mutations, 6 insertions, 7 small deletions, and 60 large deletions have been characterised. Repetitive mutation has been proved for at least 16 CpG sites. All nonsense mutations cause severe disease. Most missense mutations appear to cause instability of the protein, but some are associated with production of dysfunctional factor VIII molecules, thereby localising functionally critical regions of the cofactor. Variable phenotype has been observed in association with three of the latter class of genotype. This catalogue of gene lesions in Haemophilia A will be updated annually.

Base Sequence↗

Cosegregation of von Willebrand factor gene polymorphisms and possible germinal mosaicism in type IIB von Willebrand disease.

Recent reports of the mutations resulting in von Willebrand disease (vWD) have indicated that some cases of type IIA vWD are caused by single nucleotide substitutions in the gene encoding von Willebrand factor (vWF). However, the molecular pathogenesis of type IIB vWD remains unresolved and, with the complex posttranslational processing required for fully functional vWF, the mutations responsible for this phenotype may occur at loci other than the vWF gene. This study has used six intragenic vWF polymorphisms to assess the linkage of type IIB vWD to this gene in three families (48 individuals). The results of these studies indicate that there is significant linkage between the vWF gene and the type IIB phenotype (logarithm of the odds ratio of 7.2 at theta = 0), suggesting that the mutations responsible for this disorder frequently occur at this locus. Results from one of these families indicates that the disorder has been transmitted from an unaffected parent to two children who have inherited the same vWF gene as seven unaffected siblings. This finding is suggestive of the presence of germinal mosaicism for the mutation in the father.

Base Sequence↗

Family studies and prenatal diagnosis in severe von Willebrand disease by polymerase chain reaction amplification of a variable number tandem repeat region of the von Willebrand factor gene.

We have previously demonstrated within intron 40 of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene a region of ATCT repeats that was shown to vary in length between two different DNA clones from unrelated individuals. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine the variability in length of this variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in 53 normal individuals, using primers to DNA sequence flanking the repeat region. Overall, eight different length allelic bands were seen. These were individually sequenced and shown to contain from 6 to 14 ATCT repeats (a nine-repeat band was not seen). Seventy-five percent of individuals were shown to be heterozygous for this vWF.VNTR, and family studies showed Mendelian inheritance with allelic frequencies from 1% (vWF.VNTR [8] and vWF.VNTR [14]) to 39% (vWF.VNTR [7]). In the family of a patient with type III severe von Willebrand disease (vWD), vWF.VNTR results mirrored the phenotypic data and results with previously reported intragenic vWF restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). The patient was shown to be a compound heterozygote. In a family with a child with severe type III vWD, prenatal diagnosis by vWF.VNTR analysis on DNA obtained by chorionic villus sampling at 10 weeks gestation during a subsequent pregnancy indicated a severely affected fetus. This diagnosis was confirmed by fetal blood sampling at 18 weeks.

DNA↗

Severe type III von Willebrand's disease caused by deletion of exon 42 of the von Willebrand factor gene: family studies that identify carriers of the condition and a compound heterozygous individual.

Southern blotting was performed with cDNA probes for the human von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene on six patients with severe type III von Willebrand's disease (vWD). A partial deletion in the 3' end of the vWF gene was demonstrated in one individual whose parents were related and who had an alloantibody inhibitor to vWF. A resulting novel 2.0-kilobase (kb) EcoRI fragment was used for carrier detection within the patient's family, and seven carriers of this recessive trait were identified. Of the six tested, five had normal or only slightly reduced levels of vWF antigen, but with generally higher levels of factor VIII. The sixth carrier had moderately severe vWD and it is proposed that this patient is heterozygous for the defective vWF gene and a second recessive vWF defect. The novel 2.0-kb EcoRI restriction fragment was cloned and sequenced, and compared with that of the corresponding normal 4.2-kb EcoRI fragment that includes exons 41 and 42 of the vWF gene. A deletion of 2,320 base pairs (bp) which included exon 42, was identified and a novel 182-bp insert was found between the breakpoints. This insert was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification both in the patient's DNA and in his carrier relatives.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A mutation adjacent to the beta cleavage site of factor IX (valine 182 to leucine) results in mild haemophilia Bm.

The genetic basis of a mild form of haemophilia Bm has been investigated. The patient under investigation has a mild bleeding disorder and has never experienced spontaneous bleeds. Factor IX coagulant activity (FIX:C) was 0.15 units/ml and factor IX antigen (FIX:Ag) 1.32 units/ml. The prothrombin time performed with an ox brain thromboplastin was 65 s (normal plasma 31 s). Studies of the abnormal factor IX protein in this patient showed a normal molecular weight and normal calcium binding properties. Activation of the mutant factor IX with factor XIa showed normal proteolytic cleavage. DNA sequence from the eight factor IX exons and flanking introns was amplified from this patient using the polymerase chain reaction. The amplified material was subjected to direct chain termination nucleotide sequencing. The only nucleotide sequence alteration found was a G----C transversion at nucleotide 20,524, changing the amino acid encoded at residue 182 from valine to leucine. This residue is one amino acid removed from the beta cleavage site of factor IX. This residue is highly conserved in other vitamin K dependent serine proteases and we propose that its alteration in this patient is responsible for his mild haemophilic phenotype, and for the abnormal interaction of this factor IX protein with the extrinsic system of coagulation.

Aged↗