Variant Of Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Research Articles

Multiplexed Functional Assessment of Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Variants

High throughput genome and exome sequencing tests are used to identify disease-causing genetic variants, including those that cause inherited platelet disorders (IPDs) like Glanzmann Thrombasthenia (GT). However, most variants identified in clinical tests are classified as variants of unknown significance (VUS), lacking sufficient evidence to guide informed clinical decision-making. This frequent result of a VUS complicates clinical diagnosis and can be a source of uncertainty, distress, and inequity for patients. Functional studies that demonstrate a damaging effect of variants are considered strong evidence of pathogenicity but are missing for most variants. However, individually testing the function of all possible missense changes in IPD genes is impractical. Multiplexed assays of variant effect (MAVEs) have been developed for select diseases to simultaneously measure the functional effect of all possible nucleotides in a specific genomic region. However, MAVEs have typically been employed in cell lines, and often utilize over-expression systems, which don't account for the proper cellular and genomic context needed to assess variants in IPDs. In this study, we use CRISPR/CAS9 mediated homology directed repair (HDR) in CD34+ cells to create MKs with GT mutations in the gene ITGA2B and show that they model GT patient platelet phenotypes. We then implement a MAVE in CD34+ derived MKs to evaluate the impact on αIIb expression of a library of all possible single nucleotide changes for 12 nucleotides surrounding a type I GT variant. This was done by introducing a pooled library of HDR donors containing a mixture of test variants into CD34+ cells. This resulted in a pool of endogenously edited MKs, each containing one of 32 different nucleotide changes. These MKs were sorted into CD42+ and CD41+ or CD41- populations and analyzed using high throughput sequencing to assess variant enrichment. Analysis of sequencing reads indicated distribution of variant containing reads across all 12 nucleotides and incorporation of all 48 different HDR donors (32 changes, 12 identity replacements). Numerous indels were also identified. Our results identified two distinct clusters of variants: those supporting a damaging effect on expression, and those likely having no effect on expression. Notably, we observed that all nonsense variants and indels resulting in a stop codon clustered in the CD41- enriched population, whereas all silent variants clustered in the CD41+ enriched population. To classify variants more precisely, we used an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm based on the distribution of read counts between the CD41+ and CD41- populations. This identified 12 missense, 3 nonsense, and 30 indel variants as abnormal, compared to 24 missense and 10 silent variants as normal with respect to CD41 expression. Agreement of our results with computational assessments of variant effects supported the findings. In conclusion, we developed an approach for the multiplexed assessment of GT variants, enabling the simultaneous evaluation of the functional effect of at least 32 different variants within a specific region of ITGA2B. This opens the door to assessing the functional impact of all possible nucleotide changes across the entire ITGA2B coding region and lays the foundation for similar investigations in other IPD genes.

Effect of c.1431C > T mutation, a causative mutation of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, on ITGB3 splicing, gene and protein expression

Background/aimRecently, it was reported that the non-synonymous c.1431C > T (p. G477=) mutation of the integrin subunit β3 (ITGB3) gene is the cause of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT). However, the functional consequences of this mutation on the ITGB3 gene and protein expression remain to be elucidated. Therefore, this study was conducted to cover this scientific shortage. MethodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from Chinese family members (parents and proband and his sister), and DNA was extracted and sequenced using whole-exome and Sanger sequencing. The effect of c.1431C > T mutation on the splicing of mRNA was verified by the in vitro minigene assay and the three variants that resulted from the mutation were cloned into a phage vector and pEGFP-C1 vector, and ITGB3 gene and protein expression was detected in the transfected 293 T cells using qPCR and Western blotting. ResultsMinigene splicing assay showed that c.1431C > T mutation causes three kinds of alternative splicing; (1) a 95 bp deletion in the middle of exon10, (2) a 155 bp deletion (95 bp deletion in the middle of exon10 plus a 60 bp deletion in the right side of exon10), and (3) a 261 bp deletion in the right side of exon10. The in vitro expression assay showed that the c.1431C > T variant did not affect the ITGB3 mRNA levels, but directly led to protein truncation and declined expression. ConclusionDue to its significant impact on protein expression, c.1431C > T mutation in ITGB3 could be considered a pathogenic variant of GT. This could enrich the ITGB3 mutation spectrum and provide a base for the genetic diagnosis of GT.

The clinical characteristics and molecular pathogenesis of a variant Glanzmann's thrombasthenia-like pedigree

目的报告一个遗传性血小板功能障碍家系并探索其分子发病机制。方法收集该家系临床资料，采用二代高通量测序法进行遗传性血液病和血小板功能相关近600种基因突变筛查。采用RT-PCR及一代测序法检测先证者及其父母RASGRP2基因部分转录本序列。结果该遗传性血小板功能障碍家系临床表现符合变异型血小板无力症，表现为反复皮肤黏膜严重出血，先证者血小板对多种不同浓度的生理性诱聚剂反应低下甚至缺如。先证者未检出整合素αⅡbβ3基因突变，而存在RASGRP2 IVS3-1C>G纯合突变，其父母均为该位点杂合突变。先证者在扩增区检测出2种转录本，功能型RASGRP2蛋白对应的正常转录本未检出，其父母同时存在正常转录本及异常转录本，但以正常转录本为主。结论RASGRP2基因IVS3-1C>G纯合突变是导致该家系先证者发生血小板功能障碍性出血的原因。RASGRP2基因IVS3-1C>G突变导致RASGRP2异常剪接，发挥激活Rap1的RASGRP2蛋白缺失，进而导致血小板功能障碍。本研究为国内首次报道RASGRP2基因异常导致血小板功能障碍性出血，也是国际上首次报道该突变类型。

A novel variant Glanzmann thrombasthenia due to co-inheritance of a loss- and a gain-of-function mutation of ITGB3 : evidence of a dominant effect of gain-of-function mutations

We report a novel form of autosomal dominant variant Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) with, unlike all previously reported cases, the proband showing compound heterozygosity for two ITGB3 variants. Expression studies in CHO cells of the two previously undescribed ITGB3 variants, and studies in

Successful Management of Pregnancy and Cesarean Section in a Patient with a Qualitative Variant of Glanzmann Thrombasthenia

Successful Management of Pregnancy and Cesarean Section in a Patient with a Qualitative Variant of Glanzmann Thrombasthenia

A mutation in the β3 cytoplasmic tail causes variant Glanzmann thrombasthenia by abrogating transition of αIIbβ3 to an active state

The cytoplasmic tails of α(IIb) and β(3) regulate essential α(IIb) β(3) functions. We previously described a variant Glanzmann thrombasthenia mutation in the β(3) cytoplasmic tail, IVS14: -3C>G, which causes a frameshift with an extension of β(3) by 40 residues. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism by which the mutation abrogates transition of α(IIb) β(3) from a resting state to an active state. We expressed the natural mutation, termed 742ins, and three artificial mutations in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells along with wild-type (WT) α(IIb) as follows: β(3) -742stop, a truncated mutant to evaluate the effect of deleted residues; β(3) -749stop, a truncated mutant that preserves the NPLY conserved sequence; and β(3) -749ins, in which the aberrant tail begins after the conserved sequence. Flow cytometry was used to determine ligand binding to BHK cells. Surface expression of α(IIb) β(3) of all four mutants was at least 60% of WT expression, but there was almost no binding of soluble fibrinogen following activation with activating antibodies (anti-ligand-induced-binding-site 6 [antiLIBS6] or PT25-2). Activation of the α(IIb) β(3) mutants was only achieved when both PT25-2 and antiLIBS6 were used together or following treatment with dithiothreitol. These data suggest that the ectodomain of the four mutants is tightly locked in a resting conformation but can be forced to become active by strong stimuli. These data and those of others indicate that the middle part of the β(3) tail is important for maintaining α(IIb) β(3) in a resting conformation.

A β3 Asp217→Val substitution in a patient with variant Glanzmann Thrombasthenia severely affects integrin αIIBβ3 functions

A dysfunctional Glanzmann Thrombasthenia (variant) is a rare bleeding disorder due to qualitative abnormalities of platelets alphaIIBbeta3 heterodimers. Dynamically conformational change of alphaIIBbeta3 is a complex mechanism that is not fully understood. For these reasons, genotyping and functional analysis of variant Glanzmann Thrombasthenia is important to elucidate the molecular basis of alphaIIBbeta3 receptor functions. In this report, we have analyzed the molecular effects of an A>T substitution leading to an amino acid change, D217>V, in the beta3 integrin gene identified in patients with variant Glanzmann Thrombasthenia. As the D217 residue is highly conserved among all seven beta integrin subunits and among beta3 integrins of different species, we tested the effect on the phenotype of the D217V mutation by cotransfecting the beta3 mutant (V217) or wild-type beta3 (D217) construct with the wild-type alphaIIb into eukaryotic Chinese hamster ovary cells. Levels of mutant alphaIIBbeta3 heterodimers on Chinese hamster ovary cell surface were lightly reduced as compared with the wild type. Functional investigation of alphaIIBbeta3 V217 on Chinese hamster ovary cell surface was carried out, as fibrinogen binding, adhesion and aggregation tests showed a substantial reduction in respect to the control sample. Our results confirm ex-vivo data and suggest that the D217 amino acid is required for alphaIIBbeta3 receptor interactions with fibrinogen.

A naturally occurring Tyr143HisαIIb mutation abolishes αIIbβ3 function for soluble ligands but retains its ability for mediating cell adhesion and clot retraction: comparison with other mutations causing ligand-binding defects

The molecular basis for the interaction between a prototypic non-I-domain integrin, alpha(IIb)beta(3), and its ligands remains to be determined. In this study, we have characterized a novel missense mutation (Tyr143His) in alpha(IIb) associated with a variant of Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Osaka-12 platelets expressed a substantial amount of alpha(IIb)beta(3) (36%-41% of control) but failed to bind soluble ligands, including a high-affinity alpha(IIb)beta(3)-specific peptidomimetic antagonist. Sequence analysis revealed that Osaka-12 is a compound heterozygote for a single (521)T>C substitution leading to a Tyr143His substitution in alpha(IIb) and for the null expression of alpha(IIb) mRNA from the maternal allele. Given that Tyr143 is located in the W3 4-1 loop of the beta-propeller domain of alpha(IIb), we examined the effects of Tyr143His or Tyr143Ala substitution on the expression and function of alpha(IIb)beta(3) and compared them with KO (Arg-Thr insertion between 160 and 161 residues of alpha(IIb)) and with the Asp163Ala mutation located in the same loop by using 293 cells. Each of them abolished the binding function of alpha(IIb)beta(3) for soluble ligands without disturbing alpha(IIb)beta(3) expression. Because immobilized fibrinogen and fibrin are higher affinity/avidity ligands for alpha(IIb)beta(3), we performed cell adhesion and clot retraction assays. In sharp contrast to KO mutation and Asp163Ala alpha(IIb)beta(3), Tyr143His alpha(IIb)beta(3)-expressing cells still had some ability for cell adhesion and clot retraction. Thus, the functional defect induced by Tyr143His alpha(IIb) is likely caused by its allosteric effect rather than by a defect in the ligand-binding site itself. These detailed structure-function analyses provide better understanding of the ligand-binding sites in integrins.

Reduced Collagen-Induced Platelet Aggregation in Obligate Heterozygotes of a Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Variant with a β3 Mutation

Reduced Collagen-Induced Platelet Aggregation in Obligate Heterozygotes of a Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Variant with aβ3 Mutation -

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

Platelet aggregation and fibrin formation are essential for the maintenance of normal hemostasis, a system designed to act quickly and effectively to arrest hemorrhage. This system is also triggered by pathogenic events, such as the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque, which can lead to thrombotic vaso-occlusion, ischemia, and infarction. Platelets are a major contributor to these damaging and life-threatening thrombotic phenomena because of their adhesive properties, which result in the release of soluble mediators, platelet aggregation, and enhancement of thrombin generation.1 The platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) receptor is a key component in the pathway to platelet aggregation; consequently, this receptor has become the target for therapeutic intervention. A paradigm of this antiplatelet treatment modality is found naturally in the inherited disorder Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia. A key feature of this disease is that patients present with mucocutaneous bleeding but only rarely demonstrate spontaneous central nervous system hemorrhage,2 a feared complication of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. All of the mutations that have been identified in patients with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia result in a functional deficiency of GPIIb/IIIa receptors,2 3 and a hallmark of this disease is the absence of agonist-induced platelet aggregation. The molecular characterization of mutations causing Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia has provided a wealth of information on structure-function relations of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor. This review will briefly summarize those mutations that affect ligand-binding domains and receptor activation and present them in the context of predicted structures. More comprehensive coverage can be found in reviews discussing the structure and function of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor complex4 5 and the clinical and molecular basis of Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia.2 3 Platelets are the first line of defense in preventing blood loss from injured blood vessels via recognition and adhesion to components of the subendothelial matrix. This event is followed by formation of a platelet …

Severe Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Variant Successfully Treated With a Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Severe Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Variant Successfully Treated With a Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Severe Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Variant Successfully Treated With a Low Molecular Weight Heparin

To the Editor: Glanzmann thrombasthenia is a hereditary bleeding disorder characterized by the complete absence of platelet aggregation due to a quantitative defect and/or a functional abnormality of the platelet membrane integrin αIIbβ3 . Usually most affected patients exhibit a severe and a

Characterization of a new hereditary thrombopathy in a closed colony of Wistar rats

A new hereditary thrombopathy has been identified in a closed colony of Wistar rats. A simple and reproducible cuticle bleeding time test was developed as a rapid screening procedure for the bleeding diathesis. Affected animals exhibit markedly prolonged bleeding times and complete absence of platelet aggregation either with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or with thrombin. Inheritance data suggest an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with variable penetrance. Coagulation tests, platelet counts, plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity, and clot retraction are within normal limits in thrombopathic animals. GPlb-dependent botrocetininduced platelet agglutination was present in washed thrombopathic rat platelets. No discernible abnormality of intraplatelet organelles or granules was seen by transmission electron microscopy of thrombopathic platelets. A qualitative morphologic assessment of intraplatelet fibrinogen in thrombopathic rat platelets showed no discernible difference as compared with control rat platelets. Thrombopathic rat platelets exhibit decreased glycoprotein IIb/Illa (GPIIb/IIIa) antigen by flow cytometric analysis and markedly decreased iodine 125-labeled fibrinogen binding to platelet GPIIb/IIIa after ADP activation. This rat colony demonstrates a unique thrombopathy, distinct from previously described animal thrombopathies, with some characteristics of variant Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. This animal model may provide further insight into the regulatory mechanisms and pathophysiology of platelet GPIIb/IIIa.

A Point Mutation in the Integrin β3 Cytoplasmic Domain (S752 → P) Impairs Bidirectional Signaling Through αIIbβ3 (Platelet Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa)

Abstract Agonist-induced inside-out signaling results in an increased affinity of integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa) for soluble ligands (fibrinogen [Fg] and PAC1). Ligand binding to integrins initiates outside-in signaling that leads to cellular responses such as cell spreading and focal adhesion formation. A point mutation in the beta 3 cytoplasmic domain (S752-->P) is associated with blocked inside- out alpha IIb beta 3 signaling in a variant Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. This mutation was introduced into beta 3 and cotransfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells with a chimeric alpha subunit consisting of the alpha IIb extracellular and transmembrane domains and the alpha 6B cytoplasmic domain. The substitution of the alpha IIb cytoplasmic domain with that of alpha 6 led to activation of alpha IIb beta 3 to bind PAC1, mimicking inside-out signaling. This effect was reversed by the S752-->P mutation, indicating a disruption of inside-out signaling by the mutation. In addition, transfectants expressing this beta 3 variant showed reduced alpha IIb beta 3-mediated cell spreading on immobilized Fg, focal adhesion, and fibrin clot retraction, suggesting an impairment in outside-in alpha IIb beta 3 signaling. Therefore, a single point mutation in the beta 3 cytoplasmic domain impaired bidirectional signaling through alpha IIb beta 3.

A point mutation in the integrin beta 3 cytoplasmic domain (S752-->P) impairs bidirectional signaling through alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa)

Agonist-induced inside-out signaling results in an increased affinity of integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa) for soluble ligands (fibrinogen [Fg] and PAC1). Ligand binding to integrins initiates outside-in signaling that leads to cellular responses such as cell spreading and focal adhesion formation. A point mutation in the beta 3 cytoplasmic domain (S752-->P) is associated with blocked inside-out alpha IIb beta 3 signaling in a variant Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. This mutation was introduced into beta 3 and cotransfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells with a chimeric alpha subunit consisting of the alpha IIb extracellular and transmembrane domains and the alpha 6B cytoplasmic domain. The substitution of the alpha IIb cytoplasmic domain with that of alpha 6 led to activation of alpha IIb beta 3 to bind PAC1, mimicking inside-out signaling. This effect was reversed by the S752-->P mutation, indicating a disruption of inside-out signaling by the mutation. In addition, transfectants expressing this beta 3 variant showed reduced alpha IIb beta 3-mediated cell spreading on immobilized Fg, focal adhesion, and fibrin clot retraction, suggesting an impairment in outside-in alpha IIb beta 3 signaling. Therefore, a single point mutation in the beta 3 cytoplasmic domain impaired bidirectional signaling through alpha IIb beta 3.

Studies on the Mechanism of Expression of Secreted Fibrinogen on the Surface of Activated Human Platelets

Affinity purified anti-fibrinogen (anti-Fg) Fab fragments were used to study the mechanism of expression of alpha-granule fibrinogen on activated platelets. Low amounts of the radiolabeled anti-Fg Fab bound to unstimulated or adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-stimulated cells. They readily bound to platelets stimulated with collagen, alpha-thrombin or gamma-thrombin in the presence of divalent cations. At 1 n mol/L alpha-thrombin or 25 nmol/L gamma-thrombin, platelet fibrinogen was expressed on the surface of the cells notwithstanding the presence of AP-2, a monoclonal antibody to the glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex, or the synthetic peptides Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser and gamma 400-411, all substances that prevented the binding of plasma fibrinogen to platelets. These results suggest that platelet fibrinogen may interact with its receptors during its translocation from the alpha-granules to the plasma membrane and, thus, not occupy the same sites as those available for plasma fibrinogen on the surface of the cell. Furthermore, we found that platelet fibrinogen was expressed on the thrombin-stimulated platelets of a Glanzmann's thrombasthenia variant that failed to bind plasma fibrinogen. Normal platelets stimulated with 5 nmol/L alpha-thrombin bound increased amounts of the anti-fg Fab, the additional expression being inhibited by the anti-GP IIb-IIIa monoclonal antibody or by Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro, an inhibitor of fibrin polymer formation. This suggests that rebinding to externally located GP IIb-IIIa complexes becomes important once fibrin is formed.

Studies on the mechanism of expression of secreted fibrinogen on the surface of activated human platelets

Affinity purified anti-fibrinogen (anti-Fg) Fab fragments were used to study the mechanism of expression of alpha-granule fibrinogen on activated platelets. Low amounts of the radiolabeled anti-Fg Fab bound to unstimulated or adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-stimulated cells. They readily bound to platelets stimulated with collagen, alpha-thrombin or gamma-thrombin in the presence of divalent cations. At 1 n mol/L alpha- thrombin or 25 nmol/L gamma-thrombin, platelet fibrinogen was expressed on the surface of the cells notwithstanding the presence of AP-2, a monoclonal antibody to the glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex, or the synthetic peptides Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser and gamma 400–411, all substances that prevented the binding of plasma fibrinogen to platelets. These results suggest that platelet fibrinogen may interact with its receptors during its translocation from the alpha-granules to the plasma membrane and, thus, not occupy the same sites as those available for plasma fibrinogen on the surface of the cell. Furthermore, we found that platelet fibrinogen was expressed on the thrombin-stimulated platelets of a Glanzmann's thrombasthenia variant that failed to bind plasma fibrinogen. Normal platelets stimulated with 5 nmol/L alpha- thrombin bound increased amounts of the anti-fg Fab, the additional expression being inhibited by the anti-GP IIb-IIIa monoclonal antibody or by Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro, an inhibitor of fibrin polymer formation. This suggests that rebinding to externally located GP IIb-IIIa complexes becomes important once fibrin is formed.