1/16
Why do B12 and folate deficiencies lead to HUGE red blood cells?

And, if the issue is DNA synthesis, why are red blood cells (which don't have DNA) the key cell line affected?

For answers, we'll have to go back a few billion years.

2/
RNA came first. Then, ~3-4 billion years ago, DNA emerged.

Among their differences:
🔹RNA contains uracil
🔹DNA contains thymine

But why does DNA contains thymine (T) instead of uracil (U)?

https://t.co/XlxT6cLLXg
3/
🔑Cytosine (C) can undergo spontaneous deamination to uracil (U).

In the RNA world, this meant that U could appear intensionally or unintentionally. This is clearly problematic. How can you repair RNA when you can't tell if something is an error?

https://t.co/bIZGviHBUc
4/
DNA's use of T instead of U means that spontaneous C → U deamination can be corrected without worry that an intentional U is being removed.

DNA requires greater stability than RNA so the transition to a thymine-based structure was beneficial.

https://t.co/bIZGviHBUc
5/
Let's return to megaloblastic anemia secondary to B12 or folate deficiency.

When either is severely deficient deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP*) production is hindered. With less dTMP, DNA synthesis is abnormal.

[*Note: thymine is the base in dTMP]

https://t.co/AnDUtKkbZh
6/
So one hypothesis is that megaloblastic anemia results from a deficiency in dTMP leading to an issue with DNA elongation (i.e., addition of nucleotides)

Some (#1) but not all (#2) data support this.

There is more to it.

1. https://t.co/vysYKm4Sst
2. https://t.co/PxjmJAsvwj
7/
To add to our explanation for how B12 and folate deficiencies hinder DNA synthesis, look back at the figure in tweet 5.

What would you anticipate increases in concentration in the setting of B12 or folate deficiency?
8/
B12 and/or folate deficiency result in issues with dTMP production. As dUMP is the precursor, the ratio of dUMP/dTMP rises.

Result: dUTP (uracil + deoxyribose triphosphate) is incorporated into DNA where dTTP should be!

https://t.co/54Bir7QA93
9/
But uracil doesn't belong in DNA!

In response to this misincorporation, attempts are made to repair these strands. U is removed but there isn't enough T to fill the gaps. Single and double-stranded breaks form resulting in non-functional DNA.

https://t.co/JXzqUpRyGc
10/
Without functional DNA, cell division is halted. RBC precursors undergo apoptosis.

Result: "ineffective erythropoiesis" and anemia!

To this point we've explained the anemia but haven't yet explained why the resulting RBCs are so large. That's next.

https://t.co/y5DVkAA8vj
11/
Remember that RNA doesn't uses thymine (it uses uracil). And only the thymine containing nucleotide (dTMP) requires B12/folate.

🔑Result: In B12/folate deficiencies, RNA synthesis is relatively unaffected!

https://t.co/lwmGWuOrFC
12/
In the nuclei of B12/folate deficient RBC precursors, DNA synthesis is poor leaving cells stalled and unable to divide.

But, in the cytoplasm, RNA and protein synthesis continues unabated.

Result: "nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchrony"
13/
Precursors with nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchrony are unable to divide into daughter cells. But the cytoplasm continues to expand.

When survivors eventually cast off their nucleus (and its DNA!) and appear in the peripheral blood, they will be huge.

They will be macrocytic!
14/
There are other explanations (see link).

And I admit this doesn't really explain why RBCs are more affected than other cell lines (though all ARE affected).

AND, why are neutrophils hypersegmented?

For these unanswered questions, I seek your help.

https://t.co/huX6xJOBhp
15/
Before closing, full disclosure: I had NO IDEA what "megaloblastic" referred to.

Was it the big RBCs? Was it the hypersegmented neutrophils?

Nope.

Megaloblasts are in the bone marrow. We still use this term despite the fact that nowadays most patients don't under biopsy.
16/16
➤In megaloblastic anemia, DNA synthesis is hindered by decreased dTTP and increased incorporation of dUTP
➤RNA synthesis remain relatively unaffected
➤This leads to:
💥Ineffective erythropoiesis ➛ anemia
💥Nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchrony ➛ macrocytosis

More from Health

1/
Remember woman who tuk multiple @SriSriTattva products 4 range of problems frm diabetes 2 gas 2 liver disease & developed liver failure, listed for liver transplant?
Here is original thread:
https://t.co/PXxI1Slyv2
23 samples, Analysis results
#MedTwitter #livertwitter


2/
Before I go into results, I must say this was overwhelming. There was SO MUCH the lab identified, impossible to put everything here. So I made a summary. At the end of this thread, I have linked a full analysis described in Excel format. Some results were VERY concerning

3/
How did we analyse?
Here R links 2 methods
They R high end, done under strict protocols
Frm Ministry of Forest, Environment, Climate / NABL approvd Lab
ICP-OES https://t.co/O1CLhqVQAu
GC MSMS https://t.co/zRJoXyWQIr
FTIR https://t.co/goAembQ08p
Here is list V analysed 👇


4/
Sample names written on top (each column).
First 5 samples: C what we identified in #Ayurveda #medicines
Antibiotics
Steroids (anabolic/synthetic)
#NARCOTICS - LSD, Morphine
Blood thinners (possible reason Y bleeding tests were off the roof in the patient)
Heavy metals!


5/
Next 5 samples (total 10 now)
Mercury is clear winner. Almost all samples
See controlled substances - Butyrolactones https://t.co/CPz0FwPEOm, methylamine https://t.co/OZnXY7U9UQ
Alcohols, industrial solvents
Rare metals - cobalt, lithium
Again lots of blood thinners
#Ayush

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The first ever world map was sketched thousands of years ago by Indian saint
“Ramanujacharya” who simply translated the following verse from Mahabharat and gave the world its real face

In Mahabharat,it is described how 'Maharishi Ved Vyasa' gave away his divine vision to Sanjay


Dhritarashtra's charioteer so that he could describe him the events of the upcoming war.

But, even before questions of war could begin, Dhritarashtra asked him to describe how the world looks like from space.

This is how he described the face of the world:

सुदर्शनं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वीपं तु कुरुनन्दन। परिमण्डलो महाराज द्वीपोऽसौ चक्रसंस्थितः॥
यथा हि पुरुषः पश्येदादर्शे मुखमात्मनः। एवं सुदर्शनद्वीपो दृश्यते चन्द्रमण्डले॥ द्विरंशे पिप्पलस्तत्र द्विरंशे च शशो महान्।

—वेद व्यास, भीष्म पर्व, महाभारत


Meaning:-

हे कुरुनन्दन ! सुदर्शन नामक यह द्वीप चक्र की भाँति गोलाकार स्थित है, जैसे पुरुष दर्पण में अपना मुख देखता है, उसी प्रकार यह द्वीप चन्द्रमण्डल में दिखायी देता है। इसके दो अंशो मे पीपल और दो अंशो मे विशाल शश (खरगोश) दिखायी देता है।


Meaning: "Just like a man sees his face in the mirror, so does the Earth appears in the Universe. In the first part you see leaves of the Peepal Tree, and in the next part you see a Rabbit."

Based on this shloka, Saint Ramanujacharya sketched out the map, but the world laughed