J. Caprioli et al., The molecular basis of familial hemolytic uremic syndrome: Mutation analysis of factor H gene reveals a hot spot in short consensus repeat 20, J AM S NEPH, 12(2), 2001, pp. 297-307
The aim of the present study was to clarify whether factor H mutations were
involved in genetic predisposition to hemolytic uremic syndrome, by perfor
ming linkage and mutation studies in a large number of patients from those
referred to the Italian Registry for Recurrent and Familial HUS/TTP. PCR an
d Western blot analyses were conducted to characterize the biochemical cons
equences of the mutations. Five mutations in the factor H gene were identif
ied. Three, identified in two families and in a sporadic case, are heterozy
gous point mutations within the most C-terminal short consensus repeat 20 (
SCR20) of factor H, resulting in single amino acid substitutions. The other
two mutations introduce premature stop codons that interrupt the translati
on of factor H. A heterozygous nonsense mutation was identified in SCR8 in
one family, and a homozygous 24-bp deletion within SCR20 was identified in
a Bedouin family with a recessive mode of inheritance. Reverse transcriptio
n-PCR analysis of cDNA from peripheral blood leukocytes from the Bedouin fa
mily showed that the deletion lowered factor H mRNA levels. Although hetero
zygous mutations were associated with normal factor H levels and incomplete
penetrance of the disease, the homozygous mutation in the Bedouin family r
esulted in severe reduction of factor H levels accompanied by very early di
sease onset. These data provide compelling molecular evidence that genetica
lly determined deficiencies in factor H are involved in both autosomal-domi
nant and autosomal-recessive hemolytic uremic syndrome and identify SCR20 a
s a hot spot for mutations in the disease. The mutations identified here gi
ve an important hint to the relevance of the C-terminus of factor H in the
control of the alternative complement activation pathway.