两例补体第8成份β亚基缺陷家系患者的进一步分子遗传基础研究

目的　在白人群体中 ,导致人类补体第 8成份 β亚基缺陷的分子基础主要是在编码 β亚基基因的第 9外显子上发生碱基 C→ T的突变 ,从而形成终止密码 ,导致 C8β亚基不能完全合成。国外学者在两例 C8β亚基完全缺失的患者家系研究中 ,发现这两例β亚基缺失个体只是第 9外显子上碱基 C→ T突变的杂合子 ,现进一步寻找这两例 C8β亚基完全缺失的分子遗传学机理。方法　对两例 C8β亚基完全缺失患者的 C8β编码基因的全部 11个外显子的 PCR扩增产物进行 DNA测序分析并与正常人 DNA序列进行对比。结果　两例完全性 C8β亚基缺失患者的蛋白质编码基因中 ,分别在第 3外显子的 2 98和 388位置发现了 C→T突变 ,同时对这两个突变位点的家系分析也证实 ,位于第 3外显子上的这两个突变位点是独立于第 9外显子的突变而遗传。结论　所发现的两个突变位点均能形成终止密码而导致 C8β亚基合成提前终止 ,因此这两例患者 C8β亚基完全缺失的分子遗传学机理是由于编码 C8β亚基的基因在第 3和第 9外显子上同时发生了点突变 ,进而形成终止密码造成 C8β亚基合成终止所致。

Further study on heterogeneic basis of complement C8β deficiency

OBJECTIVE: In Caucasian population, the most common molecular basis for C8 beta deficiency s a single C to T transition in exon 9 of C8 beta gene resulting in a stop codon. In previous family studies, two individuals were identified with C8 beta complete deficiency and were found to be only heterozygous for this mutation. This study was conducted by the present authors in search of other possible causes for these two C8 beta deficient individuals. METHODS: Using direct DNA sequence analysis of all exon-specific PCR products of the C8 beta gene from these two C8 beta deficient patients and their descendants. RESULTS: Two other C to T transitions at base 298 and 388 in exon 3 were detected, which could also create a termination codon. The descendants from one of the deficient patients were also analysed for the mutations, and it could be demonstrated that the two C to T mutations in exons 9 and 3 are segregating independently. CONCLUSION: These two mutations, which create a termination codon, are sufficient to explain the complete C8 beta deficiency in both patients.