Elevated erythroferrone distinguishes erythrocytosis with inherited defects in oxygen-sensing pathway from primary familial and congenital polycythaemia

Authors	SOCHORCOVA Lucie HLUSICKOVA KAPRALOVA Katarina FIALOVÁ KUČEROVÁ Jana POSPISILOVA Dagmar PROCHAZKOVA Daniela JAHODA Ondrej KUREKOVA Simona KRALOVA Barbora DIVOKA Martina NAVRATILOVA Jana MANAKOVA Jirina KRIEGOVA Eva INDRAK Karel FABER Edgar DIVOKY Vladimir HORVATHOVA Monika
Year of publication	2023
Type	Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source	British journal of haematology
MU Faculty or unit	Faculty of Medicine
Citation
Web	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjh.18891
Doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjh.18891
Keywords	EPOR; erythrocytosis; erythroferrone; hepcidin; VHL
Description	Congenital erythrocytoses represent a heterogenous group of rare defects of erythropoiesis characterized by elevated erythrocyte mass. We performed molecular-genetic analysis of 21 Czech patients with congenital erythrocytosis and assessed the mutual link between chronic erythrocyte overproduction and iron homoeostasis. Causative mutations in erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF2A) or Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) genes were detected in nine patients, including a novel p.A421Cfs*4 EPOR and a homozygous intronic c.340+770T>C VHL mutation. The association and possible cooperation of five identified missense germline EPOR or Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) variants with other genetic/non-genetic factors in erythrocytosis manifestation may involve variants of Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1) or Ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2), but this requires further research. In two families, hepcidin levels appeared to prevent or promote phenotypic expression of the disease. No major contribution of heterozygous haemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations to the erythrocytic phenotype or hepcidin levels was observed in our cohort. VHL- and HIF2A-mutant erythrocytosis showed increased erythroferrone and suppressed hepcidin, whereas no overproduction of erythroferrone was detected in other patients regardless of molecular defect, age or therapy. Understanding the interplay between iron metabolism and erythropoiesis in different subgroups of congenital erythrocytosis may improve current treatment options.