Objective: To reveal the genetic characteristics of erythrocyte membrane protein in hereditary spherocytosis (HS) in China. Methods: Next-generation sequencing technology was used to detect mutations in genes of erythrocyte membrane proteins in 51 clinically diagnosed HS patients. The relationship between gene mutations and clinical phenotypes was analyzed. Results: Mutations in erythrocyte membrane protein genes were detected in 37 patients, including 17 with ANK1 mutations (17/37, 45.9%), 14 with SPTB mutations (14/37, 37.8%), and 5 with SLC4A1 mutations (5/37, 13.5%). One patient carried both heterozygous ANK1 mutation and SPTB mutation (1/37, 2.7%). SPTA1 and EPB42 mutation was not fou nd in any patient. Nonsense mutations (36.8%) and missense mutations (31.6%) were most common. Of the 38 mutations detected, 34 were novel mutations and have not been reported elsewhere (89.5%). Sixteen HS patients underwent parental genetic validation, 6 patients (37.5%) inherited gene mutation from parents and 10 (62.5%) were de novo. The peripheral blood cell parameters of HS patients were not related to the mutant genes and gene mutation types. However, it seems that HS patients with mild clinical status are prone to carry SPTB mutations while more patients with severe clinical status have ANK1 mutations. Conclusions: ANK1 and SPTB are the most common mutant genes in Chinese HS patients, mainly with missense mutations and nonsense mutations. There was no significant correlation between the mutation of HS related genes and the severity of HS.
Ankyrins ; Asian People ; China ; Humans ; Mutation ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of TRPA1 in the cinnamaldehyde-induced pulpal blood flow (PBF) change in the feline dental pulp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mandibles of eight cats were immobilized and PBF was monitored with a laser Doppler flowmetry at the mandibular canine tooth. To evaluate the effect of cinnamaldehyde on PBF, cinnamaldehyde was injected into the pulp through the lingual artery at a constant rate for 60 seconds. As a control, a mixture of 70% ethanol and 30% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, vehicle) was used. To evaluate the involvement of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in PBF change, AP18, a specific TRPA1 antagonist, was applied into the pulp through the Class V dentinal cavity followed by cinnamaldehyde-administration 3 minutes later. The paired variables of experimental data were statistically analyzed using paired t-test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Administration of cinnamaldehyde (0.5 mg/kg, intra-arterial [i.a.]) induced significant increases in PBF (p < 0.05). While administration of a TRPA1 antagonist, AP18 (2.5 - 3.0 mM, into the dentinal cavity [i.c.]) caused insignificant change of PBF (p > 0.05), administration of cinnamaldehyde (0.5 mg/kg, i.a.) following the application of AP18 (2.5 - 3.0 mM, i.c.) resulted in an attenuation of PBF increase from the control level (p < 0.05). As a result, a TRPA1 antagonist, AP18 effectively inhibited the vasodilative effect of cinnamaldehyde (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The result of the present study provided a functional evidence that TRPA1 is involved in the mechanism of cinnamaldehyde-induced vasodilation in the feline dental pulp.
Animals ; Ankyrins ; Arteries ; Cats ; Cuspid ; Dental Pulp* ; Dentin ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Ethanol ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Mandible ; Vasodilation

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a common inherited erythrocyte membrane disorder characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia. Clinical manifestations and biochemical abnormalities of HS are heterogeneous. In this study, we investigated erythrocyte membrane protein defects in 27 Korean HS cases. Utilizing both the Fairbanks system and the Laemmli system, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of erythrocyte membrane proteins was performed. Proteins were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue and gels were scanned using a densitometer. We detected spectrin deficiency in 7.4% of cases (2/27), ankyrin deficiency in 29.6% (8/27), combined spectrin and ankyrin deficiency in 3.7% (1/27), band 3 deficiency in 11.1% (3/27) and protein 4.2 deficiency in 14.8% (4/27). Membrane protein deficiencies were not observed in nine cases (33.3%, 9/27). Members of two of seven families tested showed the same protein defects as the proband. Ankyrin deficiency alone and combined with spectrin deficiency accounted for 33.3% of cases (9/27), and they were the most common biochemical defects in Korean HS cases. Protein 4.2 deficiency caused HS more frequently in Koreans than in Caucasians.
Ankyrins/analysis* ; Band 3 Protein/analysis* ; Erythrocyte Membrane/chemistry* ; Human ; Korea ; Spectrin/analysis* ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary/blood*

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a common inherited erythrocyte membrane disorder characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia. Clinical manifestations and biochemical abnormalities of HS are heterogeneous. In this study, we investigated erythrocyte membrane protein defects in 27 Korean HS cases. Utilizing both the Fairbanks system and the Laemmli system, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of erythrocyte membrane proteins was performed. Proteins were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue and gels were scanned using a densitometer. We detected spectrin deficiency in 7.4% of cases (2/27), ankyrin deficiency in 29.6% (8/27), combined spectrin and ankyrin deficiency in 3.7% (1/27), band 3 deficiency in 11.1% (3/27) and protein 4.2 deficiency in 14.8% (4/27). Membrane protein deficiencies were not observed in nine cases (33.3%, 9/27). Members of two of seven families tested showed the same protein defects as the proband. Ankyrin deficiency alone and combined with spectrin deficiency accounted for 33.3% of cases (9/27), and they were the most common biochemical defects in Korean HS cases. Protein 4.2 deficiency caused HS more frequently in Koreans than in Caucasians.
Ankyrins/analysis* ; Band 3 Protein/analysis* ; Erythrocyte Membrane/chemistry* ; Human ; Korea ; Spectrin/analysis* ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary/blood*

OBJECTIVES: Previous genome-wide association studies have indicated the association between ankyrin 3 (ANK3) and the vulnerability of schizophrenia. We investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the whole ANK3 locus and schizophrenia in the Korean population. METHODS: The study subjects were 582 patients with schizophrenia and 502 healthy controls. Thirty-eight tag SNPs on ANK3 and five additional SNPs showing significant association with schizophrenia in previous studies were genotyped. RESULTS: Three (rs10994181, rs16914791, rs1938526) of 43 SNPs showed a nominally significant association (p < 0.05) with at least one genotype model. But none of these associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple testing errors with Bonferroni's correction. CONCLUSIONS: We could not identify a significant association between ANK3 and schizophrenia in the Korean population. However, three SNPs showing an association signal with nominal significance need to be investigated in future studies with higher statistical power and more specific phenotype crossing the current diagnostic categories.
Ankyrins ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia*

This study analyzed the clinical features of 5 children with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and the characteristics of ANK1 and SPTB gene mutations. All 5 children were confirmed with HS by peripheral blood genetic detection. Anemia, jaundice and splenomegaly were observed in all 5 children. Three children had an increase in erythrocyte osmotic fragility. All 5 children had negative results of the Coombs test, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase test, sucrose hemolysis test, acidified-serum hemolysis test and thalassemia gene test. Peripheral blood smear showed an increase in spherocyte count in one child. High-throughput sequencing revealed ANK1 gene mutations in patients 1 to 3, namely c.3398(exon29)delA, c.4306C>T and c.957(exon9)_c.961(exon9)delAATCT, among which c.3398(exon29)delA had not been reported before. Patient 4 had c.318delGExon3 mutation in the SPTB gene. Patient 5 had mutations in the SPTB and SLC4A1 genes, among which c.3484delC in the SPTB gene was a spontaneous mutation; the mutation site of the SLCA4A1 gene was inherited from the father and was a non-pathogenic gene. This study suggests that anemia, jaundice and splenomegaly are major clinical manifestations of HS children. Most children with HS do not have the typical spherocytic changes. Genetic detection may help with the accurate diagnosis of HS.
Ankyrins ; genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Spectrin ; genetics ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary ; genetics

Four children (two boys and two girls), aged from 3 years and 7 months to 5 years, had mild or moderate anemia, mild hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice (mainly an increase in indirect bilirubin), an increase in the percentages of reticulocytes and spherical erythrocytes in peripheral blood smear and an increase in erythrocyte osmotic brittleness. High-throughput sequencing found two novel mutations in the SLC4A1 gene, c.37G>A and c.340T>C, in case 1 and case 2 respectively, and these two mutations were predicted to be pathogenic by Mutation Taster. The Polyphen2 scores of these two mutations were 0.87 and 0.83 respectively, which suggested that these mutations were probably damaging. The SIFT scores of these two mutations were 0.008 and 0.09 respectively, suggesting that these mutations were probably damaging. No abnormality in this gene was found in their parents. Two reported heterozygous mutations in the ANK1 gene, c.830A>G and c.985G>C, were found in case 3 and case 4 respectively. Gene detection was not performed for the parents of case 3. The mother of case 4 was diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis and had a heterozygous mutation of c.985G>C in the ANK1 gene. All four children were diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis. Case 3 had a hemoglobin level of <80 g/L and underwent splenectomy at the age of 5 years and 6 months, and regular postoperative reexamination showed a hemoglobin level of >105 g/L. Hereditary spherocytosis is a hereditary hemolytic disease caused by abnormality in erythrocyte membrane protein, and gene detection helps to make a confirmed diagnosis.
Ankyrins ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary

OBJECTIVE: To detect the disease-causing mutation in a family with hereditary spherocytosis type Ⅰ. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the proband and his relatives. Next-generation sequencing was used to detect the mutations of relevant genes. Suspected pathogenic mutation was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband was found to harbor a novel frameshifting mutation in the coding region of ANK1 gene, which has resulted in abnormal structure or function of the protein. The mutation was confirmed by Sanger sequencing, with both his father and brother found to have carried the same mutation. CONCLUSION The c.247delG mutation of proband hereditary spherocytosis typeⅠin this family due to mutation of the ANK1 gene．.
Ankyrins ; genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Open Reading Frames ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sensitivity and specificity of eosin-5'-maleimide (EMA)assay for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis (HS), and to verify the stability of reagent and samples.

METHODSEMA flow cytometry test, NaCl-osmotic fragility test and acidified glycerol lysis test were performed using peripheral blood samples from 80 patients with HS and 44 patients with other blood diseases, the sensitivity and specificity of the three methods were compared, and the feasibility of EMA binding test was estimated. The stability of EMA reagent and HS samples stored at different temperatures were tested.

RESULTSAmong the 124 tested samples, the sensitivity and specificity of EMA binding test was 0.925 and 0.954, that of NaCl-osmotic fragility test was 0.950 and 0.455, and that of acidified glycerol lysis test was 1.000 and 0.318, respectively. Although the sensitivity of NaCl-osmotic fragility test and acidified glycerol lysis test was a little higher than that of EMA binding test, the specificity of the former two methods was poor, they couldn't clearly distinguish whether spherocytosis is hereditary spherocytosis. The experiment results showed that EMA was sensitive to the temperature and should not be stored in a small aliquots at -80 ℃ over a period of 6 months. The stability of the HS sample was better, 6 days storage at 4 ℃ and 3 days storage at room temperature had no influence on the results.

CONCLUSIONEMA binding test by flow cytometry showed good sensitivity and specificity for HS diagnosis. EMA reagent should be stored at-80 ℃ and the HS samples should be tested within 6 days storage at 4 ℃ and 3 days at room temperature.

Ankyrins ; blood ; deficiency ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; analogs & derivatives ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary ; blood ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether sodium valproate (VPA) directly regulates the activity of Ankyrin G(AnkG) promoter in vitro.

METHODSThe mouse AnkG promoter sequence was identified by comparing both human and mouse AnkG promoter sequences. The promoter was amplified from C57BL/6 mouse genome DNA and cloned into pGL3 Luciferase reporter vector. The Luciferase activity was detected in N2a and 293T cells and then treated with 0,0.5, and 1 mmol/L VPA for 12 h. The transcription activity of AnkG promoter in cells and the activity of VPA-treated Luciferase reporter vector in cells were detected using dual Luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTSThe AnkG promoter clone and its expression vector were successfully established, as confirmed by enzyme digestion and sequencing. The AnkG promoter showed high transcription activity in both N2a and 293T cells. The Luciferase activity was significantly induced following 0.5 mmol/L VPA treatment in both N2a and 293T cells. CONCLUSIONS VPA can up-regulate the AnkG expression via directly increasing its transcription activity. Thus, the in vivo AnkG expression may be directly regulated by the VPA at transcriptional level.

Animals ; Ankyrins ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Luciferases ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Up-Regulation ; Valproic Acid