Clonal populations of hematopoietic cells with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria genotype and phenotype are present in normal individuals Journal Article


Authors: Araten, D. J.; Nafa, K.; Pakdeesuwan, K.; Luzzatto, L.
Article Title: Clonal populations of hematopoietic cells with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria genotype and phenotype are present in normal individuals
Abstract: In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), acquired somatic mutations in the PIG-A gene give rise to clonal populations of red blood cells unable to express proteins linked to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. These proteins include the complement inhibitors CD55 and CD59, and this explains the hypersensitivity to complement of red cells in PNH patients, manifested by intravascular hemolysis. The factors that determine to what extent mutant clones expand have not yet been pinpointed; it has been suggested that existing PNH clones may have a conditional growth advantage depending on some factor (e.g., autoimmune) present in the marrow environment of PNH patients. Using flow cytometric analysis of granulocytes, we now have identified cells that have the PNH phenotype, at an average frequency of 22 per million (range 10-51 per million) in nine normal individuals. These rare cells were collected by flow sorting, and exons 2 and 6 of the PIG-A gene were amplified by nested PCR. We found PIG-A mutations in six cases: four missense, one frameshift, and one nonsense mutation. PNH red blood cells also were identified at a frequency of eight per million. Thus, small clones with PIG-A mutations exist commonly in normal individuals, showing clearly that PIG-A gene mutations are not sufficient for the development of PNH. Because PIG-A encodes an enzyme essential for the expression of a host of surface proteins, the PIG-A gene provides a highly sensitive system for the study of somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells.
Keywords: adult; aged; middle aged; human cell; frameshift mutation; missense mutation; mutation; pathogenesis; flow cytometry; phenotype; membrane proteins; genotype; risk assessment; molecular cloning; hematopoietic stem cells; clone cells; nonsense mutation; genetic linkage; normal human; paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; hemoglobinuria, paroxysmal; humans; human; male; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume: 96
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0027-8424
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences  
Date Published: 1999-04-01
Start Page: 5209
End Page: 5214
Language: English
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.9.5209
PUBMED: 10220445
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC21843
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 16 August 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Khedoudja Nafa
    243 Nafa
  2. David Araten
    20 Araten
  3. Lucio Luzzatto
    105 Luzzatto