Hemophilia A (HA) provides excellent models to analyze genotype–phenotype relationships and mutational mechanisms. NhF8ld's breakpoints were characterized using case‐specific DNA‐tags, direct‐ or inverse‐polymerase chain reaction amplification, and Sanger sequencing. DNA‐break's stimulators (n = 46), interspersed repeats, non‐B‐DNA, and secondary structures were analyzed around breakpoints versus null hypotheses (E‐values) based on computer simulations and base‐frequency probabilities. Nine of 18 (50%) severe‐HA patients with nhF8lds developed inhibitors, 1/8 affecting one exon and 8/10 (80%) affecting multi‐exons. NhF8lds range: 2–165 kb. Five (45%) nhF8lds involve F8‐extragenic regions including three affecting vicinal genes (SMIM9 and BRCC3) but none shows an extra‐phenotype not related to severe‐HA. The contingency analysis of recombinogenic motifs at nhF8ld breakpoints indicated a significant involvement of several DNA‐break stimulator elements. Most nhF8ld's breakpoint junctions showed microhomologies (1–7 bp). Three (27%) nhF8lds show complexities at the breakpoints: an 8‐bp inverted‐insertion, and the remnant two, inverted‐ and direct‐insertions (46–68 bp) supporting replicative models microhomology‐mediated break‐induced replication/Fork Stalling and Template Switching. The remnant eight (73%) nhF8lds may support nonhomologous end joining/microhomology‐mediated end joining models. Our study suggests the involvement of the retroposition machinery (e.g., Jurka‐targets, Alu‐elements, long interspersed nuclear elements, long terminal repeats), microhomologies, and secondary structures at breakpoints playing significant roles in the origin of the upmost severe phenotype in HA.
Summary. Background: The recessive X-linked disorder hemophilia A (HA) is rarely expressed in female carriers, most of whom express about half of normal factor VIII activity (FVIII:C). Objective: To propose an integrative assessment model for the binary role of the phase between the mutated F8 and the active X-chromosome (Xa) in FVIII:C in HA carriers. Methods: We studied 67 females at risk of severe HA, comprising five symptomatic females (FVIII:C < 1.5 IU dL À1 ) and 14 controls. A correlation study between FVIII:C (observed vs. expected) and X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) patterns (XIPs; androgen receptor gene [AR] system) in blood leukocyte DNA was performed in carriers, by comparison of a model correlating FVIII:C and XIP with arbitrary models devoid of biological significance, and with FVIII:C levels in non-carriers (mean model) as a proxy from background data dispersion not influenced by XIP. Results:We provide proof-of-concept example from a family presenting with extremely skewed XIPs in which the severe HA phenotype appeared in a heterozygous carrier of a crossover between AR and F8 loci that phased the mutated F8 with the maternally inherited Xa. Furthermore, four cases of severe HA affected women who had a combination of a heterozygous F8 mutation and extremely skewed XIPs in leukocytes or oral mucosa are presented. Correlation analyses between FVIII:C levels and XIPs in carriers (n = 38) but not in non-carriers (n = 20) showed highly significant differences between the proposed correlation model and models without biological significance. The data support a binary influence of XCI, either increasing or decreasing the FVIII:C, subject to the underlying phase set between the F8 mutation and XCI. Conclusions: Our evidence suggests that the phase between XCI and mutated F8 acts as a molecular switch conditioning FVIII:C levels and HA expression in carriers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.