Molecular analysis of the most prevalent mutations of the FANCA and FANCC genes in Brazilian patients with Fanconi anaemia

Abstract

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a recessive autosomal disease determined by mutations in genes of at least eleven complementation groups, with distinct distributions in different populations. As far as we know, there are no reports regarding the molecular characterisation of the disease in unselected FA patients in Brazil. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the most prevalent mutations of FANCA and FANCC genes in Brazilian patients with FA. Methods: Genomic DNA obtained from 22 racially and ethnically diverse unrelated FA patients (mean age ± SD: 14.0 ± 7.8 years; 10 male, 12 female; 14 white, 8 black) was analysed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction site assays for identification of FANCA (Δ3788-3790) and FANCC (Δ322G, IVS4+4A → T, W22X, L496R, R548X, Q13X, R185X, and L554P) gene mutations. Results: Mutations in FANCA and FANCC genes were identified in 6 (27.3%) and 14 (63.6%) out of 22 patients, respectively. The disease could not be attributed to the tested mutations in the two remaining patients enrolled in the study (9.1%). The registry of the two most prevalent gene abnormalities (Δ3788-3790 and IVS4 + 4 → T) revealed that they were present in 18.2% and 15.9% of the FA alleles, respectively. Additional FANCC gene mutations were found in the study, with the following prevalence: Δ322G (11.4%), W22X (9.1%), Q13X (2.3%), L554P (2.3%), and R548X (2.3%) of total FA alleles. Conclusion: These results suggest that mutations of FANCA and FANCC genes are the most prevalent mutations among FA patients in Brazil. Copyright by the Brazilian Society of Genetics.