Presented for the degree of Doctor of Science of University of the Uiituatersrand. October, 1964. / ffiy interest in iron metabolism was initially aroused in 1948 by a young patient with idiopathic haemochromatosis who was admitted to Professor Elliott*© ward while I was serving my medical internship, With the support of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research it was possible to carry out radioisotopic studies on this patient and over the next four years a number of other subjects with the same disease ware investigated. As the study continued, attention was also directed to the siderosis which is so common in adult Bantu, and to the Iron overload which results from the administration of repeated blood transfusions to subjects with refractory anaemias. / IT2018

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Medicine. Johannesburg, 1995 / HLA-linked haemochromatosis is the result of an inborn error of metabolism inherited as an autosomal recessive gene, closely linked to the HLA locus on chromosome six. In this condition iron absorption is inappropriately high leading to iron overload. Integral to the pathogenesis of this disorder and in contrast to other causes of iron overload, is the relatively modest accumulation of iron within cells of both the small intestine and the reticuloendothelial system and the excessive deposition of iron in parenchymal cells of the liver and other organs. This observation has led to the suggestion that the primary defect(s) could be present in either the gut, the liver, the reticuloendothelial system or all three. Abnormalities in iron uptake by cells, iron transport through and between cells and iron storage in cells have all been suggested as possible mechanisms responsible for the abnormal absorption and distribution of iron in haemochromatosis. Malfunction of the iron transport protein transferrin or its receptor could be responsible for abnormal distribution and iron loading while an abnormality of ferritin iron storage could explain why some cells appear to be unable to store iron and others are iron overloaded. / IT2018

Thesis--University of Göteborg, 1970.

Thesis--University of Göteborg, 1970.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Iron metabolism disorders comprise the most common disorders in humans. Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is a common condition resulting from inappropriate iron absorption. The most common form of the disease (Type 1) is associated with mutations in the HFE gene. The C282Y homozygous genotype accounts for approximately 80% of all reported cases of HH within the Caucasian population. A second HFE mutation, H63D, is associated with less severe disease expression. The C282Y mutation is extremely rare in Asian and African populations. The H63D mutation is more prevalent and has been observed in almost all populations. Iron overload resulting from haemochromatosis is predicted to be rare in Asian Indian populations and is not associated with common HFE mutations that are responsible for HH in the Caucasian population. The aberrant genes associated with HH in India have not yet been identified. The present study attempted to identify variants in six iron regulatory genes that were resulting in the Type 1 HH phenotype observed in two Asian Indian probands from a highly consanguineous family. The promoter and coding regions of the HMOX1, HFE, HAMP, SLC40A1, CYBRD1 and HJV genes were subjected to mutation analysis. Gene fragments were amplified employing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequently subjected to heteroduplex single-strand conformational polymorphism (HEX-SSCP) analysis. Samples displaying aberrations were then analysed using bi-directional semi-automated DNA sequencing analysis to identify any known or novel variants within the six genes. Variants disrupting restriction enzyme recognition sites were genotyped employing restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Mutation analysis of the six genes revealed 24 previously identified variants, five novel variants (HFE: 5’UTR-840T→G, CYBRD1: 5’UTR-1813C→T, 5’UTR-1452T→C, 5’UTR- 1272T→C; HJV: 5’UTR-534G→T, 5’UTR-530G→T), one previously described microsatellite and two novel repeats. Variants identified within the SLC40A1, CYBRD1 and HJV genes do not seem to be associated with the iron overload phenotype. A previously described HAMP variant (5’UTR-335G→T) was observed in the homozygous state in both probands. This variant seems to be the genetic aberration responsible for iron overload in this Indian family. The severe juvenile haemochromatosis phenotype usually associated with HAMP mutations, was not exhibited by the two Indian probands. Their symptoms resembled those observed in classic Type 1 HH. It is suggested that variants identified in the HMOX1 and HFE genes are modifying the effect of the HAMP variant and resulting in the less severe disease phenotype. Although this variant has only been identified in one Indian family, it could shed some light in the hunt for the iron-loading gene in India. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oorerflike hemochromatose (OH) is ‘n algemene siektetoestand wat ontstaan as gevolg van oneffektiewe opname van yster in die liggaam. Die mees algemene vorm van die siekte (Tipe 1) word geassosieer met mutasies in die HFE-geen. Die C282Y homosigotiese genotipe is verantwoordelik vir ongeveer 80% van alle gerapporteerde gevalle van OH binne die Kaukasiese bevolking. ‘n Tweede HFE mutasie, H63D, word geassosieer met minder ernstige siekte simptome. Die C282Y mutasie is besonder skaars in Asiese en Afrika bevolkings. Daar word bespiegel dat oorerflike ysteroorlading as gevolg van hemochromatose skaars is in Asiese Indiër bevolkings en word nie geassosieer met algemene HFE mutasies wat verantwoordelik is vir OH in Kaukasiese bevolkings nie. Die abnormale gene wat wél geassosieer word met OH in Indië is tot dusver nog nie identifiseer nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die variante in ses yster-regulerende gene te identifiseer wat die Tipe 1 OH fenotipe in hierdie familie veroorsaak. Hierdie fenotipe is waargeneem in twee Asies Indiese familielede afkomstig van ‘n bloedverwante familie. Die promotor en koderingsareas van die HMOX1, HFE, HAMP, SLC40A1, CYBRD1 en HJV gene is gesif vir mutasies. Geen fragmente is geamplifiseer met behulp van die polimerase kettingsreaksie (PKR) en daarna aan heterodupleks enkelstring konformasie polimorfisme (HEX-SSCP) analise blootgestel. PKR produkte wat variasies getoon het, is daarna geanaliseer deur tweerigting semi-geoutomatiseerde DNS volgorde-bepalingsanalise om enige bekende of nuwe variante binne die ses gene te identifiseer. Variante waar restriksie ensiem herkenningsetels teenwoordig is, is verder analiseer met behulp van die restriksie fragment lengte polimorfisme (RFLP) analise sisteem. Mutasie analise van die ses gene het 24 bekende variante, vyf nuwe variante (HFE: 5’UTR- 840T→G, CYBRD1: 5’UTR-1813C→T, 5’UTR-1452T→C, 5’UTR-1272T→C, HJV: 5’UTR-534G→T, 5’UTR-530G→T), een bekende herhaling en twee nuwe herhalings gewys. Variante wat binne die SLC4041, CYBRD1 en HJV gene geïdentifiseer is, blyk nie om by te dra tot die ysteroorladings-fenotipe nie. Die bekende HAMP variant (5’UTR-335G→T) is waargeneem in die homosigotiese toestand in beide van die aangetaste individue. Hierdie variant blyk om die genetiese fout te wees wat verantwoordelik is vir die ysteroorlading in die betrokke Indiese familie. Die erge juvenielehemochromatose fenotipe wat meestal geassosieer word met HAMP-mutasies, is nie waargeneem in hierdie familie nie. Hul simptome kom ooreen met die simptome van die klassieke Tipe 1 OH. Dit blyk moontlik te wees dat die variante identifiseer in die HMOX1 en HFE gene die impak van die HAMP variant modifiseer en die matiger siekte-fenotipe tot gevolg het. Alhoewel hierdie variant slegs in een Indiese familie geïdentifiseer is, kan dit lig werp op die soektog na die veroorsakende ysterladingsgeen in Indië.

Thesis (MSc (Genetics))—University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH), a common autosomal recessive disease, is characterized by increased iron absorption leading to progressive iron accumulation in organs such as the liver, heart and pancreas. In the South African population the disease is prevalent in individuals of Caucasian origin, with a carrier frequency of one in six for the C282Y mutation in the HFE gene. We investigated the role of genes implicated in iron metabolism, including the high-iron gene (HFE), haem oxgenase-1 gene (HMOX1), solute carrier family 40 (iron-regulated transporter) member 1 gene (SLC40A1), cytochrome b reductase gene (CYBRD1), hepcidin antimicrobial peptide gene (HAMP) and the hemojuvelin gene (HJV) in a patient cohort with non-HFE iron overload. DNA analysis was performed on samples from 36 unrelated South African Caucasian patients presenting with primary iron overload, who tested either negative or heterozygous for C282Y. In this study, mutation screening was performed by PCR amplification and HEX-SSCP analysis. Sixteen previously described and two novel variants were identified by semi-automated DNA sequencing. Common variants identified in the HFE gene included C282Y, H63D, IVS2+4T→C, IVS4-44T→C, IVS4+48G→A and IVS5-47G→A. The Q127H mutation in exon 3 of the HFE gene was identified in one patient, who tested negative for both C282Y and H63D. Mutation S65C was identified only in the population-matched controls and was absent in the patient group. Other previously described polymorphisms identified included the IVS5+51delTGGCTGTCTGACT deletion in HMOX1, I109 and V221 in SLC40A1, IVS1-4C→G, IVS2+8T→C and S266N, in the CYBRD1 gene and, S264 and A310G in the HJV gene. The novel variants, -89C→T, in the promoter region of the CYBRD1 gene, was detected in only one patient, while S333 in exon 4 of the HJV gene was present in three patients. These variants were not identified in any of the population-matched controls screened and could explain the non-HFE iron overload presented by these patients. This study clearly demonstrates the importance of modifier genes in patients with iron overload that cannot be explained by the common C282Y mutation. Studies on iron-related genes and the identification of mutations in these genes in non-HFE patients could lead to improved diagnosis and counselling of South African patients presenting with primary iron overload.