Avicenna J Med Biotech

arij002

Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology

2008-2835 2008-4625

Avicenna Research Institute

ajmb291

Retraction: The Frequency and Importance of Common α-globin Gene Deletions Among β-Thalassemia Carriers in an Iranian Population

Moosavi

Azam

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

M. Ardekani

Ali

Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR , Tehran, Iran

9 4 196 200 27 8 2016 28 12 2016

Background: β-thalassemia is the most common monogenic disorder in Iran, and one of the challenges in the screening of the carriers is the coinheritance of α-thalassemia mutations. In the view of high prevalence of α-thalassemia mutations in many parts of the country, the aim of this study was to determine the carrier frequency of common alpha deletions, as a secondary modifier in clinical manifestations of beta thalassemia, in known beta-thalassemia carriers and some hematology parameter changes. Methods: The study included families referred from different primary health care centers with microcytic hypochromic anemia [MCV<80fl; MCH<27 pg] and A2>3.4%]. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by salting out method. For common β-globin gene mutation analysis, amplification refractory mutation system- polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) and for rare β-thal alleles, DNA sequencing were used. Also, for investigation of common α-globin gene cluster deletions (-α3.7, -α4.2, --MED and -α20.5), multiplex Gap-PCR was performed. Results: Among 227 β-thalassemia minor individuals studied, α-globin gene deletions were found in 43 cases: 37 heterozygote -α3.7 (16.3%), 5 homo -α3.7 (2.2%) and 1 --MED (0.44%). Also, the co-inheritance of α-globin gene deletion and triplication was not found in the studied individuals.   Conclusion: Although it is highly recommended that physicians and genetic counselors involved in the screening program of beta-thal major in the country consider this phenomenon because of high prevalence of this coinheritance, hematologic indices changes are very slight.