Genetic Variants Associated with White Blood Cell Count Amongst Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease

Overview

Journal Br J Haematol

Specialty Hematology

Date 2024 Sep 16

PMID 39279196

Authors

Mina Cintho Ozahata

Yuelong Guo

Isabel Gomes

Barbara Malta

Andre Belisario

Luiz Amorim

Dahra Teles

Miriam Park

Shannon Kelly

Ester C Sabino

Grier P Page

Brian Custer

Carla L Dinardo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a Mendelian disorder characterized by a point mutation in the β-globin gene that leads to sickling of erythrocytes. Several studies have shown that absolute neutrophil count is strongly associated with clinical severity of SCD, suggesting an apparent role of white blood cells (WBC) in SCD pathology. However, the mechanism by which genetic variants lead to WBC count differences in SCD patients remains unclear.

Methods: Genome-wide association (GWA) analyses were carried out amongst a cohort of 2409 Brazil SCD participants. Association of WBC count and genetic markers were investigated in homozygous sickle cell anaemia participants and compound heterozygous sickle cell haemoglobin C participants.

Results: GWA analysis showed that variants in genes TERT, ACKR1, and FAM3C are associated with WBC count variation. The well-studied association between WBC count and Duffy null phenotype (variant in ACKR1) in healthy populations was replicated, reinforcing the influence of the SNP rs2814778 (T>C) in WBC count.

Conclusion: Genetics plays an important role in regulating WBC count in patients with SCD. Our results point to possible mechanisms involved in WBC count variation and as increased WBC count is associated with more severe SCD, these results could suggest potential therapeutic targets for individuals with SCD.

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