The JAK2 46/1 haplotype is a risk factor for myeloproliferative neoplasms in Chinese patients

The presence of JAK2 V617F is associated with an inherited JAK2 46/1 haplotype, a risk factor for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) in Caucasian populations. Whether the JAK2 46/1 haplotype is also a risk factor in the Chinese population is unknown. We assessed for the JAK2 46/1 haplotype and JAK2 V617F mutation in 225 MPN patients and 226 controls using a tagged SNP rs12340895. The allele frequencies of the JAK2 46/1 haplotype were distinct among different subtypes of MPN patients. The allele frequency was significantly higher in polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) than that in controls, with PV patients having the highest allele frequency (0.58, P = 6.00E-15). The distribution of rs12340895 genotypes in the JAK2 V617F mutated MPN patients was significantly different from that in controls (P = 1.67E-15). The percentage of GG genotype in controls was 2.2 %, but 31.0 % in JAK2 V617F-positive MPN patients. All the PV, ET, and PMF patients with the GG genotype also exhibited the V617F mutation. Compared to that of controls, the difference in genotype distribution in PV patients was the most significant (P = 4.83E-21), followed by ET (P = 2.07E-05) and PMF (P = 1.99E-04). Our results suggest that the JAK2 46/1 haplotype is a risk factor for MPN in the Chinese population, and patients with GG genotype in rs12340895 locus are susceptible to JAK2 V617F mutation.