HEM- Artigos
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing HEM- Artigos by Title
Now showing 1 - 10 of 32
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Aberrant p15, p16, p53, and DAPK Gene Methylation in Myelomagenesis: Clinical and Prognostic ImplicationsPublication . Geraldes, C; Gonçalves, AC; Cortesão, E; Pereira, MI; Roque, A; Paiva, A; Ribeiro, L; Nascimento-Costa, JM; Sarmento-Ribeiro, ABBACKGROUND: Aberrant DNA methylation is considered a crucial mechanism in the pathogenesis of monoclonal gammopathies. We aimed to investigate the contribution of hypermethylation of 4 tumor suppressor genes to the multistep process of myelomagenesis. METHODS: The methylation status of p15, p16, p53, and DAPK genes was evaluated in bone marrow samples from 94 patients at diagnosis: monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) (n = 48), smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) (n = 8) and symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) (n = 38), and from 8 healthy controls by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 63% of patients with MM and 39% of patients with MGUS presented at least 1 hypermethylated gene (P < .05). No aberrant methylation was detected in normal bone marrow. The frequency of methylation for individual genes in patients with MGUS, SMM, and MM was p15, 15%, 50%, 21%; p16, 15%, 13%, 32%; p53, 2%, 12,5%, 5%, and DAPK, 19%, 25%, 39%, respectively (P < .05). No correlation was found between aberrant methylation and immunophenotypic markers, cytogenetic features, progression-free survival, and overall survival in patients with MM. CONCLUSIONS: The current study supports a relevant role for p15, p16, and DAPK hypermethylation in the genesis of the plasma cell neoplasm. DAPK hypermethylation also might be an important step in the progression from MGUS to MM.
- Atypical adult-onset methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria presenting as hemolytic uremic syndromePublication . Navarro, D; Azevedo, A; Sequeira, S; Ferreira, AC; Carvalho, F; Fidalgo, T; Vilarinho, L; Santos, MC; Calado, J; Nolasco, FThrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) syndromes can be secondary to a multitude of different diseases. Most can be identified with a systematic approach and, when excluded, TMA is generally attributed to a dysregulation in the activity of the complement alternative pathways-atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). We present a challenging case of a 19-year-old woman who presented with thrombotic microangiopathy, which was found to be caused by methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria, a rare vitamin B12 metabolism deficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first time that an adult-onset methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria presents as TMA preceding CNS involvement.
- Chronic hemolytic anemia is associated with a new glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in-frame deletion in an older womanPublication . Manco, L; Pereira, J; Relvas, L; Rebelo, U; Crisóstomo, AI; Bento, C; Ribeiro, MLGlucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, an X-linked disorder, is usually observed in hemizygote males and very rarely in females. The G6PD class 1 variants, very uncommon, are associated with chronic hemolytic anemia. Here we report a Portuguese woman who suffered in her sixties from a chronic hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency. Molecular studies revealed heterozygosity for an in-frame 18-bp deletion, mapping to exon 10 leading to a deletion of 6 residues, 362-367 (LNERKA), which is a novel G6PD class 1 variant, G6PD Tondela. Two of her three daughters, asymptomatic, with G6PD activity within the normal range, are heterozygous for the same deletion. The patient's leukocyte and reticulocyte mRNA studies revealed an almost exclusive expression of the mutant allele, explaining the chronic hemolytic anemia. Patient whole blood genomic DNA HUMARA assay showed a balanced pattern of X chromosome inactivation (XCI), but granulocyte DNA showed extensive skewing, harboring the mutated allele, implying that in whole blood, lymphocyte DNA, with a very long lifetime, may cover up the current high XCI skewing. This observation indicates that HUMARA assay in women should be assessed in granulocytes and not in total leukocytes.
- Cintigrafia osteoarticular com polifosfato de 99mTc em doentes com mieloma múltiploPublication . Plácido, F; Pereira, ML; Pedroso de Lima, J; Tavares, JF; Branco, JR
- Combined study of ADAMTS13 and complement genes in the diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathies using next-generation sequencingPublication . Fidalgo, T; Martinho, P; Pinto, CS; Oliveira, AC; Salvado, R; Borràs, N; Coucelo, M; Manco, L; Maia, T; Mendes, MJ; Del Orbe Barreto, R; Corrales, I; Vidal, F; Ribeiro, MLBACKGROUND: The 2 main forms of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) are thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Deficiency of ADAMTS13 and dysregulation of the complement pathway result in TTP and aHUS, respectively; however, overlap of their clinical characteristics makes differential diagnosis challenging. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We aimed to develop a TMA diagnosis workflow based on ADAMTS13 activity and screening of ADAMTS13 and complement genes using a custom next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel. PATIENTS: For this, from a cohort of 154 Portuguese patients with acute TMA, the genotype-phenotype correlations were analyzed in 7 hereditary TTP (ADAMTS13 activity <10%, no inhibitor), 36 acquired TTP (ADAMTS13 activity <10%, presence of an inhibitor), and in 34 presumable aHUS. RESULTS: In total, 37 different rare variants, 8 of which novel (in ADAMTS13,CFH, and CD46), were identified across 7 genes. Thirteen TTP patients were homozygous (n=6), compound heterozygous (n=2), and heterozygous (n=5) for 11 ADAMTS13 variants (6 pathogenic mutations). Among the 34 aHUS patients, 17 were heterozygous for 23 variants in the different complement genes with distinct consequences, ranging from single pathogenic mutations associated with complete disease penetrance to benign variants that cause aHUS only when combined with other variants and/or CFH and CD46 risk haplotypes or CFHR1-3 deletion. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence of the usefulness of the NGS panel as an excellent technology that enables more rapid diagnosis of TMA, and is a valuable asset in clinical practice to discriminate between TTP and aHUS.
- Dendritic cells in cord blood transplantation: a reviewPublication . Pereira, MI; Paiva, ADendritic cells (DCs) are a heterogeneous population of antigen-presenting cells derived from hematopoietic progenitors that bridge the transition between the innate and adaptive immune responses, while maintaining self-tolerance and Th1/Th2 homeostasis, by priming other cells in either an immunogenic or tolerogenic direction. Through their role in both innate and adaptive immunity, DCs play a major part in transplant engraftment and rejection and in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Preferentially tolerogenic or immunogenic DC subtypes offer targets for immunotherapy, to optimize transplant success rates and prolong disease-free and overall survival. Cord blood DCs are immature and preferentially tolerogenic, due to maternal-fetal tolerance, leading to better graft acceptance and immune reconstitution and explaining the lower incidence and severity of GvHD in CB transplantation, despite donor-host mismatching. Manipulation of DC maturation and cell loading with tumor-antigens can direct antitumor immunity and target minimal residual disease, as demonstrated for acute myeloid leukemia, optimizing the graft-versus-leukemia effect.
- Erythrocytosis associated with a novel missense mutation in the BPGM genePublication . Petousi, N; Copley, RR; Lappin, TR; Haggan, SE; Bento, C; Cario, H; Percy, MJ; Consortium, TW; Ratcliffe, PJ; Robbins, PA; McMullin, MF
- Erythrocytosis associated with a novel missense mutation in the BPGM genePublication . Petousi, N; Copley, RR; Lappin, TR; Haggan, SE; Brito, C; Cario, H; et al
- Evaluation of Apoptotic Molecular Markers in Myelodysplastic Syndrome PatientsPublication . Cortesão, E; Gonçalves, AC; Sousa, I; Moucho, C; Rito, L; Espadana, AI; Magalhães, E; Pereira, AM; Teixeira, A; Nascimento-Costa, JM; Sarmento, AB
- Evolutionary Constraints in the b-Globin Cluster: The Signature of Purifying Selection at the d-Globin (HBD) Locus and Its Role in Developmental Gene RegulationPublication . Moleirinho, A; Seixas, A; Lopes, AM; Bento, C; Prata, MJ; Amorim, AHuman hemoglobins, the oxygen carriers in the blood, are composed by two α-like and two β-like globin monomers. The β-globin gene cluster located at 11p15.5 comprises one pseudogene and five genes whose expression undergoes two critical switches: the embryonic-to-fetal and fetal-to-adult transition. HBD encodes the δ-globin chain of the minor adult hemoglobin (HbA2), which is assumed to be physiologically irrelevant. Paradoxically, reduced diversity levels have been reported for this gene. In this study, we sought a detailed portrait of the genetic variation within the β-globin cluster in a large human population panel from different geographic backgrounds. We resequenced the coding and noncoding regions of the two adult β-globin genes (HBD and HBB) in European and African populations, and analyzed the data from the β-globin cluster (HBE, HBG2, HBG1, HBBP1, HBD, and HBB) in 1,092 individuals representing 14 populations sequenced as part of the 1000 Genomes Project. Additionally, we assessed the diversity levels in nonhuman primates using chimpanzee sequence data provided by the PanMap Project. Comprehensive analyses, based on classic neutrality tests, empirical and haplotype-based studies, revealed that HBD and its neighbor pseudogene HBBP1 have mainly evolved under purifying selection, suggesting that their roles are essential and nonredundant. Moreover, in the light of recent studies on the chromatin conformation of the β-globin cluster, we present evidence sustaining that the strong functional constraints underlying the decreased contemporary diversity at these two regions were not driven by protein function but instead are likely due to a regulatory role in ontogenic switches of gene expression.