OBJECTIVES: To investigate the causal associations between autoimmune diseases and aplastic anemia (AA) using Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS: Publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were utilized to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with autoimmune diseases and AA for analysis. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary analytical approach, with MR Egger, Weighted Mode, Weighted Median, and Simple Mode methods serving as complementary analyses. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses were conducted using designated functions, and the robustness of Mendelian randomization results was assessed using leave-one-out analysis. RESULTS: The two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using the IVW method revealed significant positive causal associations of rheumatoid arthritis (OR=1.094, 95% CI: 1.023-1.170, P=0.009, adjusted P=0.042), systemic lupus erythematosus (OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.021-1.208, P=0.015, adjusted P=0.036), Hashimoto thyroiditis (OR=1.206, 95% CI: 1.049-1.387, P=0.009, adjusted P=0.029), and Sicca syndrome (OR=1.173, 95% CI: 1.054-1.306, P=0.004, adjusted P=0.035) with AA, which was supported by the results from the Weighted Median method. Sensitivity analyses indicated no evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity, and leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of the causal relationships. No direct evidence was found linking Graves' disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, or primary sclerosing cholangitis with AA (P>0.05, adjusted P>0.05), indicating a lack of causal association. Reverse Mendelian randomization results and multiple corrections indicated that AA was not an influencing factor for autoimmune diseases (adjusted P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support at the genetic level that rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and Sicca syndrome are risk factors for AA, and confirm a causal association of the these 4 autoimmune diseases with an increased risk of AA.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Anemia, Aplastic/genetics* ; Autoimmune Diseases/complications* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease

Humans ; Anemia, Aplastic/genetics* ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure ; Chromosome Disorders

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-125b on T cell activation in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: A total of 30 AA patients were enrolled in department of hematology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital from January 2018 to October 2021, as well as 15 healthy individuals as healthy control (HC) group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, in which the levels of miR-125b and B7-H4 mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Immunomagnetic beads were used to separate naive T cells and non-naive T cells from AA patients and healthy people to detect the levels of miR-125b and B7-H4 mRNA. Lentivirus LV-NC inhibitor and LV-miR-125b inhibitor were transfected into cells, and T cell activation was detected by flow cytometry. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the targetting relationship between miR-125b and B7-H4. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the levels of miR-125b, CD40L, ICOS, IL-10 mRNA and B7-H4 protein. RESULTS: Compared with HC group, the expression of miR-125b was up-regulated but B7-H4 mRNA was down-regulated in PBMCs of AA patients (P <0.05), and the proportions of CD4⁺CD69⁺ T cells and CD8⁺CD69⁺ T cells in PBMCs of AA patients were higher (P <0.05). The expression of miR-125b was significantly up-regulated but B7-H4 mRNA was down-regulated in both naive T cells and non-naive T cells of AA patients (P <0.05), and non-naive T cells was more significant than naive T cells (P <0.05). Compared with NC inhibitor group, the expression of miR-125b was significantly decreased, the expression level of CD69 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in PBMCs was also significantly decreased, while the luciferase activity was significantly increased after co-transfection of miR-125b inhibitor and B7-H4-3'UTR-WT in the miR-125b inhibitor group (P <0.05). Compared with NC inhibitor group, the mRNA and protein levels of B7-H4 were significantly increased in the miR-125b inhibitor group (P <0.05). Compared with miR-125b inhibitor+shRNA group, the expression levels of CD69 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were significantly increased, and the levels of CD40L, ICOS and IL-10 mRNA were also significantly increased in the miR-125b inhibitor+sh-B7-H4 group (P <0.05). CONCLUSION MiR-125b may promote T cell activation by targetting B7-H4 in AA patients.
Humans ; Anemia, Aplastic/genetics* ; CD40 Ligand/metabolism* ; Interleukin-10 ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Luciferases ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism*

Whether Fanconi anemia (FA) heterozygotes are predisposed to bone marrow failure and hematologic neoplasm is a crucial but unsettled issue in cancer prevention and family consulting. We retrospectively analyzed rare possibly significant variations (PSVs) in the five most obligated FA genes, BRCA2, FANCA, FANCC, FANCD2, and FANCG, in 788 patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and hematologic malignancy. Sixty-eight variants were identified in 66 patients (8.38%). FANCA was the most frequently mutated gene (n = 29), followed by BRCA2 (n = 20). Compared with that of the ExAC East Asian dataset, the overall frequency of rare PSVs was higher in our cohort (P = 0.016). BRCA2 PSVs showed higher frequency in acute lymphocytic leukemia (P = 0.038), and FANCA PSVs were significantly enriched in AA and AML subgroups (P = 0.020; P = 0.008). FA-PSV-positive MDS/AML patients had a higher tumor mutation burden, higher rate of cytogenetic abnormalities, less epigenetic regulation, and fewer spliceosome gene mutations than those of FA-PSV-negative MDS/AML patients (P = 0.024, P = 0.029, P = 0.024, and P = 0.013). The overall PSV enrichment in our cohort suggests that heterozygous mutations of FA genes contribute to hematopoietic failure and leukemogenesis.
Anemia, Aplastic/genetics* ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Fanconi Anemia/genetics* ; Germ Cells ; Hematologic Neoplasms/genetics* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of miR-335-5p/ADCY3 interaction on the lymphocyte function in the patients with aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 22 healthy volunteers (HC) and 50 AA patients including 38 severe AA (SAA) and 12 non-severe AA (NSAA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were isolated. The expression of miR-335-5p and ADCY3 mRNA was detected by using RT-PCR. Negative control miR-335-5p (NC group) and miR-335-5p mimic (mimic group) were transfected to AA-PBMNC by using RNAimax reagent, respectively. The proliferative ability, activation and cytokines of CD4 T and CD8 T cells were measured by flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the targeted relationship between miR-335-5p and target gene. RESULTS: The expression of miR-335-5p was significantly downregulated in SAA-PBMNC and NSAA-PBMNC compared with HC-PBMNC (0.08±0.01 vs 0.74±0.10, P＜0.01; 0.17±0.02 vs 0.74±0.10, P＜0.01). Meanwhile, the expression of miR-335-5p in SAA-PBMNC was very statistically significantly lower than that in NSAA-PBMNC (P＜0.01). Compared with NC group, upregulation of miR-335-5p in vitro could significantly inhibited the proliferation of CD4 T and CD8 T cells in AA-PBMNC (P＜0.05 and P＜0.05, respectively). And, upregulating miR-335-5p in AA-PBMNC could significantly inhibited the activation of CD4 and CD8 T cells (P＜0.01 and P＜0.01, respectively). The ratio of CD4TNFα T, CD8IFNγ+T and CD8TNFα T cell by up-regulating the expression of miR-335-5p from AA-PBMNC in vitro was also significantly lower (P＜0.01, P＜0.05 and P＜0.05, respectively). In addition, the expression of ADCY3 was higher in AA-PBMNC than that in HC-PBMNC (1.70±0.15 vs 0.76±0.12, P＜0.01). Furthermore, by means of dual-luciferase reporter assay, the luciferase activity of ADCY3'UTR wildtype could be inhibited by miR-335-5p. CONCLUSIONS The expression of miR-335-5p was significantly downregulated in AA, and that correlates with disease severity. Up-regulating miR-335-5p can correct the hyperimmune status in AA patients by targeting ADCY3. These changes may relates with the strengthen of inhibition for targeted gene ADCY3.
Anemia, Aplastic ; genetics ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Lymphocyte Count ; MicroRNAs ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 gene polymorphism and aplastic anemia （AA）of 65 cases in Northern China. METHODS: The high resolution genotyping of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 alleles in 65 AA patients and 772 healthy controls was performed with polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO), the relationship between HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 gene polymorphism and aplastic anemia was analyzed by Pearson Chi-square，Continuity Correction， Two-sided Fisher's Exact Test and Odds Ratio. RESULTS: The HLA-B*1302（10% vs 4.21%）, B*3501（7.69% vs 3.89%）, DRB1* 0701（10% vs 4.73%）, DRB1*0901（19.23% vs 7.58%）, DQB1*0202（9.23% vs 3.76%） gene frequency in AA patients was higher than those in health controls, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), the χ were 9.049, 4.336, 6.838, 20.974 and 8.968, OR ratio was 2.528, 2.061, 2.239, 2.904 and 2.605. However, the HLA-A*3303（1.54% vs 6.93%）, DQB1*0302（1.54% vs 6.02%） gene frequency in AA patients was lower than those in healthy controls, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), the χ was 5.726 and 4.505, the OR ratio were 0.210 and 0.244. CONCLUSION The polymorphism of HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, -DQB1 alleles is associate with AA in these patient cases, the HLA-B*1302, HLA-B*3501, HLA-DRB1*0701, HLA-DRB1*0901 and HLA-DQB1*0202 may be sensitive genes to AA, while the HLA-A*3303 and HLA-DQB1*0302 may be protective genes on AA.
Alleles ; Anemia, Aplastic ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of clonal evolution after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in children with severe/very severe aplastic anemia (SAA/VSAA).

METHODSThe clinical data of 231 children with newly-diagnosed SAA/VSAA who received IST were retrospectively studied. The incidence and risk factors of clonal evolution after IST were analyzed.

RESULTSThe 5-year overall survival rate of the 231 patients was 82.7%. Except for 18 cases of early deaths, 213 patients were evaluated for IST efficacy. Among the 231 patients, cytogenetic abnormalities for at least two chromosome metaphase were detectable in 14 (7.4%) patients, and PNH clones were detectable in either peripheral red blood cells or neutrophils for 95 patients. Among the 213 patients evaluated for IST efficacy, 15 patients experienced clonal evolution after IST. Five patients had PNH and trisomy 8 which were defined as favorable progressions, and ten patients experienced monosomy 7 and MDS/AML as unfavorable progressions. The 5-year accumulative incidence of favorable and unfavorable progression were (2.2±2.2)% and (4.8±3.3)%, respectively. Until the last follow-up, 100% (5/5) of patients with favorable progressions and 50% (5/10) of patients with unfavorable progressions survived. WBC>3.5×10/L, CD3T cell percentage>80%, dosage of antithymocyte globulin >3.0 mg/(kg·d) and no response to IST were related to unfavorable progressions by univariate analysis. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that an increased CD3T cell percentage (>80%) and no response to IST were independent risk factors for unfavorable progressions.

CONCLUSIONSThe children with SAA/VSAA who have an increased CD3T cell percentage at diagnosis or have no response to IST are in high risks of unfavorable progressions.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; mortality ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Clonal Evolution ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes various acute and chronic diseases. Chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) is characterized by infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms that persist for more than 6 months with high viral loads in peripheral blood and/or an unusual pattern of anti-EBV antibodies. Severe CAEBV is associated with poor prognosis with severe symptoms, an extremely high EBV-related antibody titer, and hematologic complications that often include hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. However, CAEBV which led to the development of aplastic anemia (AA) has not been reported yet. A 73-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with intermittent fever, general weakness and elevated liver enzymes. In the serologic test, EBV-related antibody titer was elevated, and real-time quantitative-PCR in peripheral blood showed viral loads exceeding 10(4) copies/microg DNA. Liver biopsy showed characteristic histopathological changes of EBV hepatitis and in situ hybridization with EBV-encoded RNA-1 was positive for EBV. Pancytopenia was detected in peripheral blood, and the bone marrow aspiration biopsy showed hypocellularity with replacement by adipocytes. AA progressed and the patient was treated with prednisolone but deceased 8 months after the diagnosis due to multiple organ failure and opportunistic infection. Herein, we report a rare case of severe CAEBV in an adult patient accompanied by AA and persistent hepatitis.
Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic/*complications ; Carbapenems/therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Hepatitis/*complications ; Herpesvirus 4, Human/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Severity of Illness Index ; Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical, laboratory characteristics and PIG-A gene mutations in patients of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with PNH clones.

METHODS218 MDS patients diagnosed from August 2013 to August 2015 were analyzed. The PIG-A gene mutations were tested in 13 cases of MDS with PNH clones, 17 cases of AA-PNH and 14 cases of PNH selected contemporaneously by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTS13 (5.96%) MDS patients were detected with PNH clones (13/218 cases). 9 patients were treated with cyclosporin A (CsA). Patients showed hematological improvement (HI). There were significant differences between MDS-PNH and PNH patients in terms of granulocyte clone size, red cell clone size and LDH levels [19.2% (1.0%-97.7%) vs 60.2% (3.1%-98.0%), P=0.007; 4.3% (0-67.2%) vs 27.9% (2.5%-83.6%), P=0.026; 246 (89-2014) U/L vs 1137 (195-2239) U/L, P=0.049], while the differences were not statistically significant in patients between MDS-PNH and AA-PNH patients [19.2% (1.0%-97.7%) vs 23.2% (1.5%-96.0%), P=0.843; 4.3% (0-67.2%) vs 14.4% (1.1%-62.8%), P=0.079; 246 (89-2014) U/L vs 406 (192-1148) U/L, P=0.107]. PIG-A gene mutations were detected in 7 MDS-PNH patients, of them, six were missense mutations, one were frameshift mutation and four cases with the same mutation of c.356G>A (R119Q). The PIG-A gene mutations were also detected in 9/11 AA-PNH patients and 11/14 PNH patients, both of them had the mutation of c.356G>A (R119Q). The PIG-A gene mutations of MDS-PNH, AA-PNH, PNH patients were all small mutations, the majority of those (59%) were missense mutation and mainly located in exon 2.

CONCLUSIONMDS patients with PNH clones had better response to CsA, smaller PNH clone size. The PIG-A gene mutations of MDS-PNH patients mainly located in exon 2, which could be a mutational hotspot of these patients.

Anemia, Aplastic ; genetics ; Clone Cells ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Exons ; Granulocytes ; cytology ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo analyze changes in gene amplification in the mitochondrial genome and in the ID4 gene promoter methylation region in patients with chronic aplastic anemia (CAA) suffering from Kidney (Shen) yin deficiency or Kidney yang deficiency.

METHODSBone marrow and oral epithelium samples were collected from CAA patients with Kidney yin deficiency or Kidney yang deficiency (20 cases). Bone marrow samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers. The mitochondrial genome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and PCR products were used for sequencing and analysis.

RESULTSHigher mutational rates were observed in the ND1-2, ND4-6, and CYTB genes in CAA patients suffering from Kidney yin deficiency. Moreover, the ID4 gene was unmethylated in bone marrow samples from healthy individuals, but was methylated in some CAA patients suffering from Kidney yin deficiency (positive rate, 60%) and Kidney yang deficiency (positive rate, 55%).

CONCLUSIONSThese data supported that gene mutations can alter the expression of respiratory chain enzyme complexes in CAA patients, resulting in energy metabolism impairment and promoting the physiological and pathological processes of hematopoietic failure. Functional impairment of the mitochondrial respiration chain induced by gene mutation may be an important reason for hematopoietic failure in patients with CAA. This change is closely related to maternal inheritance and Kidney yin deficiency. Finally, these data supported the assertion that it is easy to treat disease in patients suffering from yang deficiency and difficult to treat disease in patients suffering from yin deficiency.

Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; DNA Methylation ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Female ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins ; genetics ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Yin Deficiency ; genetics ; Young Adult