Spontaneous 8bp Deletion in Nbeal2 Recapitulates the Gray Platelet Syndrome in Mice

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 7;11(3):e0150852. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150852. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

During the analysis of a whole genome ENU mutagenesis screen for thrombosis modifiers, a spontaneous 8 base pair (bp) deletion causing a frameshift in exon 27 of the Nbeal2 gene was identified. Though initially considered as a plausible thrombosis modifier, this Nbeal2 mutation failed to suppress the synthetic lethal thrombosis on which the original ENU screen was based. Mutations in NBEAL2 cause Gray Platelet Syndrome (GPS), an autosomal recessive bleeding disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and gray-appearing platelets due to lack of platelet alpha granules. Mice homozygous for the Nbeal2 8 bp deletion (Nbeal2gps/gps) exhibit a phenotype similar to human GPS, with significantly reduced platelet counts compared to littermate controls (p = 1.63 x 10-7). Nbeal2gps/gps mice also have markedly reduced numbers of platelet alpha granules and an increased level of emperipolesis, consistent with previously characterized mice carrying targeted Nbeal2 null alleles. These findings confirm previous reports, provide an additional mouse model for GPS, and highlight the potentially confounding effect of background spontaneous mutation events in well-characterized mouse strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Pairing / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Blood Proteins / chemistry
  • Blood Proteins / genetics*
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Emperipolesis / genetics
  • Exome / genetics
  • Exons / genetics
  • Female
  • Fertility / genetics
  • Frameshift Mutation*
  • Gray Platelet Syndrome / complications
  • Gray Platelet Syndrome / genetics*
  • Gray Platelet Syndrome / immunology
  • Gray Platelet Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neutropenia / complications
  • Neutrophils / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Thrombocytopenia / complications

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Nbeal2 protein, mouse