Two case reports of inherited antithrombin deficiency: a novel frameshift mutation and a large deletion including all seven exons detected using two methods

Identification and functional analysis of three novel genetic variants resulting in premature termination codons in three unrelated patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency

Hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency is an autosomal dominant inherited thrombophilia. In three pedigrees of hereditary type I AT deficiency, we identified novel variants c.126delC (p.Lys43Serfs^*7), c.165C > G (p.Tyr55^*), and c.546delA (p.Lys182Asnfs^*102) in the open reading frame encoding AT in each patient. Each of these aberrant variants leads to premature termination of AT protein synthesis. To investigate whether these abnormal variants are involved in the pathogenesis of type I AT deficiency, we analyzed the function of these variants in HEK293 cells. Results of western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy showed that all abnormal variants were expressed intracellularly, but p.Lys43Serfs^*7 and p.Tyr55^* protein were aggregated in the cells. These three variants were not detected in the spent culture medium, indicating that these novel variants affect protein secretion. In summary, we suggest that these variants in the AT-encoding gene are translated in the cell, but form abnormal proteins that form aggregates and/or inhibit secretion. These results provide insight into novel mechanisms of type I AT deficiency and potential therapies for the condition.

Molecular basis of SERPINC1 mutations in Japanese patients with antithrombin deficiency

BACKGROUND

Congenital antithrombin (AT) deficiency, which arises from various SERPINC1 defects, is an autosomal-dominant thrombophilic disorder associated with a high risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

PATIENTS/METHODS

We investigated SERPINC1 defects in Japanese patients with congenital AT deficiency who developed venous thromboembolism or had a family history of deep vein thrombosis. We analyzed the full DNA sequences of SERPINC1 exons and exon-intron junctions by PCR-mediated direct sequencing. If no mutation was found, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was conducted for the relative quantification of the copy number of all exons in SERPINC1. If splice-site mutations were detected, mRNA splicing abnormalities were further investigated using an in vitro cell-based exontrap assay.

RESULTS

We identified 19 different SERPINC1 abnormalities, including 8 novel mutations, in 21 Japanese patients with AT deficiency. These abnormalities were distributed as follows: 9 missense mutations (42.9%), 3 nonsense mutations (14.3%), 1 splice-site mutation (4.8%), 2 small insertions (9.5%), 2 deletion mutations (9.5%) and 4 large deletions (19.0%). Cases with large deletions of SERPINC1 included Alu-mediated gene rearrangements and non-Alu-mediated complex gene rearrangements; the latter could conceivably be explained using the fork stalling and template switching (FoSTeS) model.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a variety of SERPINC1 defects in Japanese patients with AT deficiency. The SERPINC1 mutations detected in patients with type I AT deficiency included single nucleotide missense or nonsense mutations, small intragenic insertions or deletions, and large genomic structural deletions. Large deletions of SERPINC1 were caused by various recurrent or non-recurrent complex genomic rearrangement mutations.

Causative genetic mutations for antithrombin deficiency and their clinical background among Japanese patients

We summarize causative genetic mutations for antithrombin (AT) deficiency and their clinical background in Japanese patients. A total of 19 mutations, including seven novel mutations, were identified. We also summarize clinical symptoms of thrombosis, age at onset, family history, and contributing factors for thrombosis, and review the use of prophylactic anticoagulation in pregnant women with heterozygous type II heparin binding site defects (HBS) AT deficiency. The prevalence of thrombosis in probands with type I AT deficiency (88%) was double that observed in those with type II AT deficiency (50%). The prevalence of thrombotic episodes among family members was also higher for type I AT deficiency subjects (82%) than for those with type II AT deficiency (0%). The most common contributing factor for thrombosis among women with type I AT deficiency was pregnancy. Forty-five percent of women with type I AT deficiency developed thrombotic events before the 20th week of gestation. In contrast, women with type II (HBS) AT deficiency appear to be at a lower risk of thrombosis during pregnancy. In conclusion, thrombotic risk varies among different subtypes. Risk assessments based on genetic/clinical backgrounds may contribute to appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis for patients with AT deficiency.

Antithrombin III deficiency in Indian patients with deep vein thrombosis: identification of first India based AT variants including a novel point mutation (T280A) that leads to aggregation

Antithrombin III (AT) is the main inhibitor of blood coagulation proteases like thrombin and factor Xa. In this study we report the identification and characterization of several variants of AT for the first time in Indian population. We screened 1950 deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients for AT activity and antigen levels. DNA sequencing was further carried out in patients with low AT activity and/or antigen levels to identify variations in the AT gene. Two families, one with type I and the other with type II AT deficiency were identified. Three members of family I showed an increase in the coagulation rates and recurrent thrombosis in this family was solely attributed to the rs2227589 polymorphism. Four members of family II spanning two generations had normal antigen levels and decreased AT activity. A novel single nucleotide insertion, g.13362_13363insA in this family in addition to g.2603T>C (p.R47C) mutation were identified. AT purified from patient's plasma on hi-trap heparin column showed a marked decrease in heparin affinity and thrombin inhibition rates. Western blot analysis showed the presence of aggregated AT. We also report a novel point mutation at position g.7549 A>G (p.T280A), that is highly conserved in serpin family. Variant protein isolated from patient plasma indicated loss of regulatory function due to in-vivo polymerization. In conclusion this is the first report of AT mutations in SERPINC1 gene in Indo-Aryan population where a novel point mutation p.T280A and a novel single nucleotide insertion g.13362_13363insA are reported in addition to known variants like p.R47C, p.C4-X and polymorphisms of rs2227598, PstI and DdeI.

A complex genomic abnormality found in a patient with antithrombin deficiency and autoimmune disease-like symptoms

Hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency is an autosomal dominant thrombophilic disorder caused by SERPINC1 abnormality. In the present study, we analyzed SERPINC1 in a Japanese patient with AT deficiency and autoimmune disease-like symptoms. Direct sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification revealed that the patient was hemizygous for the entire SERPINC1 deletion. Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping, gene dose measurement, and long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by mapping PCR and direct sequencing of the long-range PCR products revealed that the patient had an approximately 111-kb gene deletion from exon 2 of ZBTB37 to intron 5 of RC3H1, including the entire SERPINC1 in chromosome 1. We also found a 7-bp insertion of an unknown origin in the breakpoint, which may be a combination of three parts with a few base-pair microhomologies, resulting from a replication-based process known as 'fork stalling and template switching'. Because RC3H1, which encodes the protein roquin is involved in the repression of self-immune responses, the autoimmune disease-like symptoms of the patient may have resulted from this gene defect. In conclusion, we identified an entire SERPINC1 deletion together with a large deletion of RC3H1 in an AT-deficient patient with autoimmune disease-like symptoms.

Antithrombin deficiency in three Japanese families: one novel and two reported point mutations in the antithrombin gene

INTRODUCTION

Inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency is associated with a predisposition to familial venous thromboembolic disease. We analyzed the AT gene in three unrelated patients with an AT deficiency who developed thrombosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed the SERPINC1 gene in three patients. Additionally, we expressed the three mutants in the COS-1 cells and compared their secretion rates and levels of AT activity with those of the wild-type (WT).

RESULTS

We identified three distinct heterozygous mutations of c.2534C>T: p.56Arginine → Cysteine (R56C), c.13398C>A: p.459Alanine → Aspartic acid (A459D) and c.2703C>G: p.112 Proline → Arginine (P112R). In the in vitro expression experiments, the AT antigen levels in the conditioned media (CM) of the R56C mutant were nearly equal to those of WT. In contrast, the AT antigen levels in the CM of the A459D and P112R mutants were significantly decreased. The AT activity of R56C was decreased in association with a shorter incubation time in a FXa inhibition assay and a thrombin inhibition-based activity test. However, the AT activity of R56C was comparable to that of WT when the incubation time was increased.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that the R56C mutant is responsible for type II HBS deficiency. We considered that the A459D and P112R mutants can be classified as belonging to the type I AT deficiency.