ISSN 2412-4036 (print)
ISSN 2713-1823 (online)

Gilbert’s syndrome: Molecular genetic markers

Ivanova Yu.V., Ivanova A.A., Maksimov V.N.

Research Institute for Therapy and Preventive Medicine – a branch of the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk
Abstract. Gilbert’s syndrome (GS) is the most common genetically determined clinical manifestation of decreased activity of the UDP-glucuronyl transferase enzyme and increased levels of indirect bilirubin. The most accessible method for its diagnosis is determining the number of TA repeats (rs3064744) in the promoter of UGT1A1 gene. However, carriers of 7TA repeats may not develop symptoms of hyperbilirubinemia, which may be present in carriers of 6TA/6TA and 6TA/7TA, which indicates a possible contribution of other molecular genetic mechanisms to the development of GS.
The aim: to summarize the data on molecular genetic markers of GS to expand fundamental knowledge and diagnostic capabilities for patients with hyperbilirubinemia of unknown genesis.
Material and methods. We analyzed domestic (using scientific electronic libraries Cyberleninka and eLibrary) and foreign (using PubMed and Medline databases) literature sources devoted to GS and its molecular genetic mechanisms over the past 10 years and separate earlier sources containing data important for the review. Articles presenting the results of studies of various variants of the UGT1A1, NUP153, SLCO1B1, HMOX1, BLVRA genes associated with bilirubin metabolism and GS development were studied. The majority of studies were performed on the Asian population, while studies on the European population are only few and concern mainly the UGT1A1 gene.
Conclusion. In case of GS, the pathogenic variant rs3064744 of UGT1A1 gene has incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. The markers of increased risk of benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia described in the review can help in understanding the pathogenesis of GS and individual peculiarities of its course, as well as in planning future studies on this nosology.

Keywords

Gilbert’s syndrome
unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia
neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
UGT1A1 gene

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About the Authors

Yulia V. Ivanova, MD, junior researcher at the Department of molecular genetic studies of therapeutic diseases, Research Institute for Therapy and Preventive Medicine – a branch of the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Address: 630089, Novosibirsk, 175/1 B. Bogatkova St.
E-mail: juliaivanovvaa@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3936-2226. Scopus ID: 57225902499. eLibrary SPIN: 8972-0981
Anastasia A. Ivanova, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), senior researcher at the Department of molecular genetic studies of therapeutic diseases, Research Institute for Therapy and Preventive Medicine – a branch of the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Address: 630089, Novosibirsk, 175/1 B. Bogatkova St.
E-mail: ivanova_a_a@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9460-6294. Scopus ID: 57189646609. eLibrary SPIN: 2299-0463
Vladimir N. Maksimov, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), professor, chief researcher at the Department of molecular genetic studies of therapeutic diseases, Research Institute for Therapy and Preventive Medicine – a branch of the Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Address: 630089, Novosibirsk, 175/1 B. Bogatkova St.
E-mail: medik11@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7165-4496. Scopus ID: 7202540327. eLibrary SPIN: 9953-7867

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