Molecular Basis of α-Thalassemia in Iran

The molecular basis of α-thalassemia.

The globin gene disorders including the thalassemias are among the most common human genetic diseases with more than 300,000 severely affected individuals born throughout the world every year. Because of the easy accessibility of purified, highly specialized, mature erythroid cells from peripheral blood, the hemoglobinopathies were among the first tractable human molecular diseases. From the 19...

Molecular Basis of Thalassemia

MOLECULAR STUDIES ON THE DIST RIBUTION OF β - THALASSEMIA IN IRAN: THE BASIS FOR PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS

By application of modern recombinant DNA technology, especially the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/dot-blot hybridization techniques, we have investigated the molecular basis of β-thalassemia from four different regions of Iran: central, south-east, south and north. In this study, the DNA samples were isolated from patients and for the identification of the mutations, the 6 oligonucleotide...

Spectrum of α-thalassemia mutations in Qazvin Province, Iran

α-Thalassemia is a widespread inherited disease particularly prevalent in the middle East Asia population, including Iran. The aim of this study was to define the molecular spectrum and frequency of α-thalassemia mutations in prospective couples of Qazvin province. A total of 120,000 subjects were studied during 10 years (1998-2008). Individuals present with hypochromic and microcytic parameter...

The molecular basis of β-thalassemia.

The β-thalassemias are characterized by a quantitative deficiency of β-globin chains underlaid by a striking heterogeneity of molecular defects. Although most of the molecular lesions involve the structural β gene directly, some down-regulate the gene through distal cis effects, and rare trans-acting mutations have also been identified. Most β-thalassemias are inherited in a Mendelian recessive...