Iram Aftab1,2, Saima Iram2, Saba Khaliq3, Muhammad Israr4,5, Nadir Ali6, Shah Jahan3, Shabbir Hussain7, Shagufta Khaliq8, Shahida Mohsin2. 1. Pathology Laboratory, District Headquarter Hospital, Shiekhupura, Pakistan. 2. Department of Hematology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 3. Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 4. Department of Forensic Studies, University of Swat, Swat, Pakistan. 5. Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 6. Department of Hematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. 7. Department of Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 8. Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease determined by mutations in at least 16 genes, with distinct distributions in different populations. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports regarding the molecular basis of the disease in FA patients in Pakistan. The current study aimed to determine the frequency of FANCC gene mutations, i.e. IVS4+4A>T, del322G, and R548X, in FA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 36 FA patients. All samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. RESULTS: Mutation IVS4+4A>T was identified in 26 (72.2%) patients. It was homozygous in 6 and heterozygous in 20 patients. Del322G and R548X were found with the following prevalences: del322G, 5.6%, and R548X, 5.6%. Patients with these two mutations were compound heterozygotes having concomitant IVS4+4A>T mutation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that mutation IVS4+4A>T is the most prevalent mutation in our group of patients. This analysis of Pakistani patients also suggests that there is no significant difference between IVS4+4A>T homozygotes and the rest of the patients with regard to severity of clinical phenotype.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease determined by mutations in at least 16 genes, with distinct distributions in different populations. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports regarding the molecular basis of the disease in FA patients in Pakistan. The current study aimed to determine the frequency of FANCC gene mutations, i.e. IVS4+4A>T, del322G, and R548X, in FA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 36 FA patients. All samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. RESULTS: Mutation IVS4+4A>T was identified in 26 (72.2%) patients. It was homozygous in 6 and heterozygous in 20 patients. Del322G and R548X were found with the following prevalences: del322G, 5.6%, and R548X, 5.6%. Patients with these two mutations were compound heterozygotes having concomitant IVS4+4A>T mutation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that mutation IVS4+4A>T is the most prevalent mutation in our group of patients. This analysis of Pakistani patients also suggests that there is no significant difference between IVS4+4A>T homozygotes and the rest of the patients with regard to severity of clinical phenotype.