CD36 deficiency among South‐East Asian populations

Abstract

Immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia is commonly caused by platelet‐reactive antibodies mostly against polymorphic structures residing on platelet glycoproteins such as human leucocyte antigen and human platelet antigen (HLA class I and HPA). In the Japanese population, some individuals do not express CD36 (CD36null also known as Naka) on the cell surface. Immunization of these individuals can lead to the development of CD36 isoantibodies (anti‐Naka) which play a role in the mechanism of platelet transfusion refractoriness, post‐transfusion purpura and fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Until today, however, little is known about the clinical relevance of CD36 deficiency and CD36 isoantibodies among other South‐East Asian populations. Therefore, multinational study was organised under the aegis of the ISBT to study the distribution of CD36 deficiency in this region.

Frequency of CD36 deficiency in Thais analyzed by quantification of CD36 on cell surfaces and in plasma

“…Interestingly, the c.1163A > T mutation is not the most common mutation in other Asian populations. In China, c.329‐330delAC and c.1228‐1239delATTGTGCCTATT and in Japan, c.268C > T and c.478 T > C were found most frequently in CD36‐deficient individuals (Table ). This suggests that the distribution of CD36 mutations varies among Asian populations and may be driven by gene–environment interaction(s).…”

“…The incidence of CD36 Type I and Type II deficiency is extremely low in Australian 6 (0.0%) and French (0.0%) populations, but more frequent in African (7.7%) Chinese (1.8%‐2.2%), and Japanese (6.8%‐8.2%) people . The CD36 gene is highly polymorphic and more than 30 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms have been reported .…”