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Chetta M, Tarsitano M, Rivieccio M, Oro M, Cammarota A, De Marco M, Marzullo L, Rosati A, Bukvic N. A Copernican revolution of multigenic analysis: A retrospective study on clinical exome sequencing in unclear genetic disorders. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:2615-2622. [PMID: 39006921 PMCID: PMC11245952 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the inevitable shift in medical practice towards a deeper understanding of disease etiology and progression through multigenic analysis, the profound historical impact of Mendelian diseases cannot be overlooked. These diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and thalassemia, are characterized by a single variant in a single gene leading to clinical conditions, and have significantly shaped our medical knowledge and treatments. In this respect, the monogenic approach inevitably results in the underutilization of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data. Herein, a retrospective study was performed to assess the diagnostic value of the clinical exome in 32 probands with specific phenotypic characteristics (patients with autoinflammation and immunological dysregulation, N = 20; patients diagnosed with Hemolytic uremic syndrome N = 9; and patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia, N = 3). A gene enrichment analysis was performed using the *. VCF file generated by SOPHiA-DDM-v4. This analysis selected a subset of genes containing pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants with autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance. In addition, all variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were included, filtered by AD inheritance mode, the presence of compound heterozygotes, and a minor allele frequency (MAF) cutoff of 0.05 %. The aim of the pipeline described here is based on a perspective shift that focuses on analyzing patients' gene assets, offering new light on the complex interplay between genetics and disease presentation. Integrating this approach into clinical practices could significantly enhance the management of patients with rare genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Chetta
- A.O.R.N. A. Cardarelli Hospital’s Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Naples, Italy
| | - M. Tarsitano
- A.O.R.N. A. Cardarelli Hospital’s Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Naples, Italy
| | - M. Rivieccio
- A.O.R.N. A. Cardarelli Hospital’s Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Naples, Italy
| | - M. Oro
- A.O.R.N. A. Cardarelli Hospital’s Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Naples, Italy
| | - A.L. Cammarota
- StressBioLab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana,” University of Salerno, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - M. De Marco
- StressBioLab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana,” University of Salerno, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - L. Marzullo
- StressBioLab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana,” University of Salerno, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - A. Rosati
- StressBioLab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana,” University of Salerno, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - N. Bukvic
- U.O.C Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Bari, IT, Italy
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Hao J, Han G, Liang X, Ruan Y, Huang C, Sa N, Hu H, Hu B, Li Z, Zhang K, Gao P, Dong X. PELO regulates erythroid differentiation through interaction with MYC to upregulate KLF10. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 39206622 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Erythropoiesis is a multistep process of erythroid cell production that is controlled by multiple regulatory factors. Ribosome rescue factor PELO plays a crucial role in cell meiotic division and mice embryonic development. However, the function of PELO in erythroid differentiation remains unclear. Here, we showed that knockdown of PELO increased hemin-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 and HEL cells, exhibiting a higher number of benzidine-positive cells and increased mRNA levels of erythroid genes. PELO knockdown inhibited the proliferation and cell cycle progression and promoted apoptosis of K562 cells. Mechanistically, PELO could regulate the expression of KLF10 through interaction with MYC. Moreover, KLF10 knockdown also enhanced erythroid differentiation of K562 and HEL cells induced by hemin. Collectively, our results demonstrated that PELO regulates erythroid differentiation and increases KLF10 expression levels by interacting with MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglan Hao
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guiqin Han
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Liang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yongtong Ruan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Naer Sa
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hang Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bixi Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhongqi Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Hansoh Bio, 9600 Medical Center drive, Rockville, USA
| | - Ping Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoming Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
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3
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Khandros E, Blobel GA. Elevating fetal hemoglobin: recently discovered regulators and mechanisms. Blood 2024; 144:845-852. [PMID: 38728575 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT It has been known for over half a century that throughout ontogeny, humans produce different forms of hemoglobin, a tetramer of α- and β-like hemoglobin chains. The switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin occurs around the time of birth when erythropoiesis shifts from the fetal liver to the bone marrow. Naturally, diseases caused by defective adult β-globin genes, such as sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, manifest themselves as the production of fetal hemoglobin fades. Reversal of this developmental switch has been a major goal to treat these diseases and has been a driving force to understand its underlying molecular biology. Several review articles have illustrated the long and at times arduous paths that led to the discovery of the first transcriptional regulators involved in this process. Here, we survey recent developments spurred by the discovery of CRISPR tools that enabled for the first time high-throughput genetic screens for new molecules that impact the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch. Numerous opportunities for therapeutic intervention have thus come to light, offering hope for effective pharmacologic intervention for patients for whom gene therapy is out of reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Khandros
- Division of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Gerd A Blobel
- Division of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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4
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Song X, Liu J, Chen T, Zheng T, Wang X, Guo X. Gene therapy and gene editing strategies in inherited blood disorders. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00180-2. [PMID: 38986807 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy has shown significant potential in treating various diseases, particularly inherited blood disorders such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, and thalassemia. Advances in understanding the regulatory network of disease-associated genes have led to the identification of additional therapeutic targets for treatment, especially for β-hemoglobinopathies. Erythroid regulatory factor BCL11A offers the most promising therapeutic target for β-hemoglobinopathies and reduction of its expression using the commercialized gene therapy product Casgevy was approved for use in the UK and USA in 2023. Notably, the emergence of innovative gene editing technologies has further broadened the gene therapy landscape, presenting new possibilities for treatment. Intensive studies indicate that base editing and prime editing, built upon CRISPR technology, enable precise single-base modification in hematopoietic stem cells for addressing inherited blood disorders ex vivo and in vivo. In this review, we present an overview of the current landscape of gene therapies, focusing on clinical research and gene therapy products for inherited blood disorders, evaluation of potential gene targets, and the gene editing tools employed in current gene therapy practices, which provides an insight for the establishment of safer and more effective gene therapy methods for a wider range of diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Song
- Institute of Blood Diseases, Department of Hematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - JinLei Liu
- Institute of Blood Diseases, Department of Hematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Tangcong Chen
- Institute of Blood Diseases, Department of Hematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Tingfeng Zheng
- Institute of Blood Diseases, Department of Hematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Institute of Blood Diseases, Department of Hematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Xiang Guo
- Institute of Blood Diseases, Department of Hematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China.
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5
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Borg J, Loy C, Kim J, Buhagiar A, Chin C, Damle N, De Vlaminck I, Felice A, Liu T, Matei I, Meydan C, Muratani M, Mzava O, Overbey E, Ryon KA, Smith SM, Tierney BT, Trudel G, Zwart SR, Beheshti A, Mason CE, Borg J. Spatiotemporal expression and control of haemoglobin in space. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4927. [PMID: 38862545 PMCID: PMC11166948 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49289-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
It is now widely recognised that the environment in space activates a diverse set of genes involved in regulating fundamental cellular pathways. This includes the activation of genes associated with blood homoeostasis and erythropoiesis, with a particular emphasis on those involved in globin chain production. Haemoglobin biology provides an intriguing model for studying space omics, as it has been extensively explored at multiple -omic levels, spanning DNA, RNA, and protein analyses, in both experimental and clinical contexts. In this study, we examined the developmental expression of haemoglobin over time and space using a unique suite of multi-omic datasets available on NASA GeneLab, from the NASA Twins Study, the JAXA CFE study, and the Inspiration4 mission. Our findings reveal significant variations in globin gene expression corresponding to the distinct spatiotemporal characteristics of the collected samples. This study sheds light on the dynamic nature of globin gene regulation in response to the space environment and provides valuable insights into the broader implications of space omics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Borg
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Conor Loy
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alfred Buhagiar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Christopher Chin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iwijn De Vlaminck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex Felice
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Tammy Liu
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Irina Matei
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cem Meydan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Department of Genome Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Omary Mzava
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Eliah Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Krista A Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott M Smith
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Braden T Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guy Trudel
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara R Zwart
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- The WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Joseph Borg
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta.
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6
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Myers G, Sun Y, Wang Y, Benmhammed H, Cui S. Roles of Nuclear Orphan Receptors TR2 and TR4 during Hematopoiesis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:563. [PMID: 38790192 PMCID: PMC11121135 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
TR2 and TR4 (NR2C1 and NR2C2, respectively) are evolutionarily conserved nuclear orphan receptors capable of binding direct repeat sequences in a stage-specific manner. Like other nuclear receptors, TR2 and TR4 possess important roles in transcriptional activation or repression with developmental stage and tissue specificity. TR2 and TR4 bind DNA and possess the ability to complex with available cofactors mediating developmental stage-specific actions in primitive and definitive erythrocytes. In erythropoiesis, TR2 and TR4 are required for erythroid development, maturation, and key erythroid transcription factor regulation. TR2 and TR4 recruit and interact with transcriptional corepressors or coactivators to elicit developmental stage-specific gene regulation during hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greggory Myers
- Departments of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA; (G.M.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yanan Sun
- Section of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.S.); (H.B.)
| | - Yu Wang
- Departments of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA; (G.M.); (Y.W.)
| | - Hajar Benmhammed
- Section of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.S.); (H.B.)
| | - Shuaiying Cui
- Section of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Y.S.); (H.B.)
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7
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Gambari R, Waziri AD, Goonasekera H, Peprah E. Pharmacogenomics of Drugs Used in β-Thalassemia and Sickle-Cell Disease: From Basic Research to Clinical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4263. [PMID: 38673849 PMCID: PMC11050010 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this short review we have presented and discussed studies on pharmacogenomics (also termed pharmacogenetics) of the drugs employed in the treatment of β-thalassemia or Sickle-cell disease (SCD). This field of investigation is relevant, since it is expected to help clinicians select the appropriate drug and the correct dosage for each patient. We first discussed the search for DNA polymorphisms associated with a high expression of γ-globin genes and identified this using GWAS studies and CRISPR-based gene editing approaches. We then presented validated DNA polymorphisms associated with a high HbF production (including, but not limited to the HBG2 XmnI polymorphism and those related to the BCL11A, MYB, KLF-1, and LYAR genes). The expression of microRNAs involved in the regulation of γ-globin genes was also presented in the context of pharmacomiRNomics. Then, the pharmacogenomics of validated fetal hemoglobin inducers (hydroxyurea, butyrate and butyrate analogues, thalidomide, and sirolimus), of iron chelators, and of analgesics in the pain management of SCD patients were considered. Finally, we discuss current clinical trials, as well as international research networks focusing on clinical issues related to pharmacogenomics in hematological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Gambari
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 40124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Aliyu Dahiru Waziri
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Kaduna 810001, Nigeria;
| | - Hemali Goonasekera
- Department of Anatomy, Genetics and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo P.O. Box 271, Sri Lanka;
| | - Emmanuel Peprah
- Implementing Sustainable Evidence-Based Interventions through Engagement (ISEE) Lab, Department of Global and Environmental Health, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA;
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8
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Zhang X, Xia F, Zhang X, Blumenthal RM, Cheng X. C2H2 Zinc Finger Transcription Factors Associated with Hemoglobinopathies. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168343. [PMID: 37924864 PMCID: PMC11185177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
In humans, specific aberrations in β-globin results in sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, symptoms of which can be ameliorated by increased expression of fetal globin (HbF). Two recent CRISPR-Cas9 screens, centered on ∼1500 annotated sequence-specific DNA binding proteins and performed in a human erythroid cell line that expresses adult hemoglobin, uncovered four groups of candidate regulators of HbF gene expression. They are (1) members of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex proteins that are already known for HbF control; (2) seven C2H2 zinc finger (ZF) proteins, including some (ZBTB7A and BCL11A) already known for directly silencing the fetal γ-globin genes in adult human erythroid cells; (3) a few other transcription factors of different structural classes that might indirectly influence HbF gene expression; and (4) DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) that maintains the DNA methylation marks that attract the MBD2-associated NuRD complex to DNA as well as associated histone H3 lysine 9 methylation. Here we briefly discuss the effects of these regulators, particularly C2H2 ZFs, in inducing HbF expression for treating β-hemoglobin disorders, together with recent advances in developing safe and effective small-molecule therapeutics for the regulation of this well-conserved hemoglobin switch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Fangfang Xia
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Yuce K, Ozkan AI. The kruppel-like factor (KLF) family, diseases, and physiological events. Gene 2024; 895:148027. [PMID: 38000704 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.148027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The Kruppel-Like Factor family of regulatory proteins, which has 18 members, is transcription factors. This family contains zinc finger proteins, regulates the activation and suppression of transcription, and binds to DNA, RNA, and proteins. Klfs related to the immune system are Klf1, Klf2, Klf3, Klf4, Klf6, and Klf14. Klfs related to adipose tissue development and/or glucose metabolism are Klf3, Klf7, Klf9, Klf10, Klf11, Klf14, Klf15, and Klf16. Klfs related to cancer are Klf3, Klf4, Klf5, Klf6, Klf7, Klf8, Klf9, Klf10, Klf11, Klf12, Klf13, Klf14, Klf16, and Klf17. Klfs related to the cardiovascular system are Klf4, Klf5, Klf10, Klf13, Klf14, and Klf15. Klfs related to the nervous system are Klf4, Klf7, Klf8, and Klf9. Klfs are associated with diseases such as carcinogenesis, oxidative stress, diabetes, liver fibrosis, thalassemia, and the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this review is to provide information about the relationship of Klfs with some diseases and physiological events and to guide future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemal Yuce
- Selcuk University, Medicine Faculty, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology, Konya, Turkiye.
| | - Ahmet Ismail Ozkan
- Artvin Coruh University, Medicinal-Aromatic Plants Application and Research Center, Artvin, Turkiye.
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10
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Mazzarini M, Cherone J, Nguyen T, Martelli F, Varricchio L, Funnell APW, Papayannopoulou T, Migliaccio AR. The glucocorticoid receptor elicited proliferative response in human erythropoiesis is BCL11A-dependent. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.05.577972. [PMID: 38370646 PMCID: PMC10871295 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.05.577972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Prior evidence indicates that the erythroid cellular response to glucocorticoids (GC) has developmental specificity, namely, that developmentally more advanced cells that are undergoing or have undergone fetal to adult globin switching are more responsive to GC-induced expansion. To investigate the molecular underpinnings of this, we focused on the major developmental globin regulator BCL11A. We compared: a) levels of expression and nuclear content of BCL11A in adult erythroid cells upon GC stimulation; b) response to GC of CD34+ cells from patients with BCL11A microdeletions and reduced BCL11A expression, and; c) response to GC of two cellular models (HUDEP-2 and adult CD34+ cells) before and after reduction of BCL11A expression by shRNA. We observed that: a) GC-expanded erythroid cells from a large cohort of blood donors displayed amplified expression and nuclear accumulation of BCL11A; b) CD34+ cells from BCL11A microdeletion patients generated fewer erythroid cells when cultured with GC compared to their parents, while the erythroid expansion of the patients was similar to that of their parents in cultures without GC, and; c) adult CD34+ cells and HUDEP-2 cells with shRNA-depleted expression of BCL11A exhibit reduced expansion in response to GC. In addition, RNA-seq profiling of shRNA-BCL11A CD34+ cells cultured with and without GC was similar (very few differentially expressed genes), while GC-specific responses (differential expression of GILZ and of numerous additional genes) were observed only in controls cells with unperturbed BCL11A expression. These data indicate that BCL11A is an important participant of certain aspects of the stress pathway sustained by GC.
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11
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Zheng G, Orkin SH. Transcriptional Repressor BCL11A in Erythroid Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1459:199-215. [PMID: 39017845 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62731-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
BCL11A, a zinc finger repressor, is a stage-specific transcription factor that controls the switch from fetal (HbF, α2γ2) to adult (HbA, α2β2) hemoglobin in erythroid cells. While BCL11A was known as a factor critical for B-lymphoid cell development, its relationship to erythroid cells and HbF arose through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Subsequent work validated its role as a silencer of γ-globin gene expression in cultured cells and mice. Erythroid-specific loss of BCL11A rescues the phenotype of engineered sickle cell disease (SCD) mice, thereby suggesting that downregulation of BCL11A expression might be beneficial in patients with SCD and β-thalassemia. Common genetic variation in GWAS resides in an erythroid-specific enhancer within the BCL11A gene that is required for its own expression. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of the enhancer revealed a GATA-binding site that confers a large portion of its regulatory function. Disruption of the GATA site leads to robust HbF reactivation. Advancement of a guide RNA targeting the GATA-binding site in clinical trials has recently led to approval of first-in-man use of ex vivo CRISPR editing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) as therapy of SCD and β-thalassemia. Future challenges include expanding access and infrastructure for delivery of genetic therapy to eligible patients, reducing potential toxicity and costs, exploring prospects for in vivo targeting of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and developing small molecule drugs that impair function of BCL11A protein as an alternative option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zheng
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School and HHMI, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School and HHMI, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Wu SM, Li C, Huang SR, Jiang F, Li DZ. A 6-Year Follow-up of a Chinese Child with Homozygous β 0-Thalaasemia and a Heterozygous KLF1 Mutation. Hemoglobin 2024; 48:60-62. [PMID: 38314576 DOI: 10.1080/03630269.2024.2310804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Patients with the genotype of β0/β0 for β-thalassemia (β-thal) usually behave as β-thal major (β-TM) phenotype which is transfusion-dependent. The pathophysiology of β-thal is the imbalance between α/β-globin chains. The degree of α/β-globin imbalance can be reduced by the more effective synthesis of γ-globin chains, and increased Hb F levels, modifying clinical severity of β-TM. We report a Chinese child who had homozygous β0-thal and a heterozygous KLF1 mutation. The patient had a moderate anemia since 6 months old, keeping a baseline Hb value of 8.0-9.0 g/dL. She had normal development except for a short stature (3rd percentile) until 6 years old, when splenomegaly and facial bone deformities occurred. Although genetic alteration of KLF1 expression in β0/β0 patients can result in some degree of disease alleviation, our case shows that it is insufficient to ameliorate satisfactorily the presentation. This point should be borne in mind for physicians who provide the genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis to at-risk families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Min Wu
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chan Li
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, People's Republic of China
| | - Su-Ran Huang
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Jiang
- Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong-Zhi Li
- Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
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13
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Bieker JJ, Philipsen S. Erythroid Krüppel-Like Factor (KLF1): A Surprisingly Versatile Regulator of Erythroid Differentiation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1459:217-242. [PMID: 39017846 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62731-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Erythroid Krüppel-like factor (KLF1), first discovered in 1992, is an erythroid-restricted transcription factor (TF) that is essential for terminal differentiation of erythroid progenitors. At face value, KLF1 is a rather inconspicuous member of the 26-strong SP/KLF TF family. However, 30 years of research have revealed that KLF1 is a jack of all trades in the molecular control of erythropoiesis. Initially described as a one-trick pony required for high-level transcription of the adult HBB gene, we now know that it orchestrates the entire erythroid differentiation program. It does so not only as an activator but also as a repressor. In addition, KLF1 was the first TF shown to be directly involved in enhancer/promoter loop formation. KLF1 variants underlie a wide range of erythroid phenotypes in the human population, varying from very mild conditions such as hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin and the In(Lu) blood type in the case of haploinsufficiency, to much more serious non-spherocytic hemolytic anemias in the case of compound heterozygosity, to dominant congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type IV invariably caused by a de novo variant in a highly conserved amino acid in the KLF1 DNA-binding domain. In this chapter, we present an overview of the past and present of KLF1 research and discuss the significance of human KLF1 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Bieker
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Sjaak Philipsen
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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14
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Hantaweepant C, Suktitipat B, Pithukpakorn M, Chinthammitr Y, Limwongse C, Tansiri N, Sawatnatee S, Takpradit C, Rotchanapanya W, Pongudom S, Charoenprasert K, Paiboonsukwong K, Thamprasert W, Nolwachai N, Rattanasawat W, Sae-Aeng B, Khorwanichakij N, Saetow P, Saengboon S, Kamjornpreecha K, Pholmoo W, Dujjawan B, Siritanaratkul N. Whole exome sequencing and rare variant association study to identify genetic modifiers, KLF1 mutations, and a novel double mutation in Thai patients with hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia. Hematology 2023; 28:2187155. [PMID: 36939018 DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2023.2187155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical manifestations of patients with Hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia vary from mild to severe phenotypes despite exhibiting the same genotype. Studies have partially identified genetic modifiers. We aimed to study the association between rare variants in protein-coding regions and clinical severity in Thai patients. METHODS From April to November 2018, a case-control study was conducted based on clinical information and DNA samples collected from Thai patients with hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia over the age of four years. Cases were patients with severe symptoms, while patients with mild symptoms acted as controls. Whole exome sequencing and rare variant association study were used to analyze the data. RESULTS All 338 unrelated patients were classified into 165 severe and 173 mild cases. Genotypes comprised 81.4% of hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia, 2.7% of homozygous or compound heterozygous beta-thalassemia, and 0.3% of (δβ)0 thalassemia Hb E while 15.7% of samples were not classified as beta-thalassemia. A novel cis heterozygotes of IVS I-7 (A > T) and codon 26 (G > A) was identified. Six genes (COL4A3, DLK1, FAM186A, PZP, THPO, and TRIM51) showed the strongest associations with severity (observed p-values of <0.05; significance lost after correction for multiplicity). Among known modifiers, KLF1 variants were found in four mild patients and one severe patient. CONCLUSION No rare variants were identified as contributors to the clinical heterogeneity of hemoglobin E/beta-thalassemia. KLF1 mutations are potential genetic modifiers. Studies to identify genetic factors are still important and helpful for predicting severity and developing targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chattree Hantaweepant
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bhoom Suktitipat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Integrative Computational BioScience (ICBS) Center, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Manop Pithukpakorn
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Genomics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yingyong Chinthammitr
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chanin Limwongse
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nawaporn Tansiri
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Uttaradit Hospital, Uttaradit, Thailand
| | - Surasak Sawatnatee
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
| | - Chayamon Takpradit
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wannaphorn Rotchanapanya
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Chiangrai, Thailand
| | - Saranya Pongudom
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Udonthani Hospital, Udonthani, Thailand
| | | | - Kittiphong Paiboonsukwong
- Thalassemia Research Center, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Wichuda Thamprasert
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Nakhon Pathom Hospital, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Narumol Nolwachai
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Saraburi Hospital, Saraburi, Thailand
| | - Wanlapa Rattanasawat
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Busakorn Sae-Aeng
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Banphaeo General Hospital, Samutsakhon, Thailand
| | - Nisachon Khorwanichakij
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Chaophra Yommarat Hospital, Suphanburi, Thailand
| | - Putchong Saetow
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lerdsin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supawee Saengboon
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | | | - Wikanda Pholmoo
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Pathumthani Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Boonyanuch Dujjawan
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Noppadol Siritanaratkul
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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15
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Chen X, Pillay S, Lohmann F, Bieker JJ. Association of DDX5/p68 protein with the upstream erythroid enhancer element (EHS1) of the gene encoding the KLF1 transcription factor. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105489. [PMID: 38000658 PMCID: PMC10750184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
EKLF/KLF1 is an essential transcription factor that plays a global role in erythroid transcriptional activation. Regulation of KLF1 is of interest, as it displays a highly restricted expression pattern, limited to erythroid cells and its progenitors. Here we use biochemical affinity purification to identify the DDX5/p68 protein as an activator of KLF1 by virtue of its interaction with the erythroid-specific DNAse hypersensitive site upstream enhancer element (EHS1). We further show that this protein associates with DEK and CTCF. We postulate that the range of interactions of DDX5/p68 with these and other proteins known to interact with this element render it part of the enhanseosome complex critical for optimal expression of KLF1 and enables the formation of a proper chromatin configuration at the Klf1 locus. These individual interactions provide quantitative contributions that, in sum, establish the high-level activity of the Klf1 promoter and suggest they can be selectively manipulated for clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyong Chen
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sanjana Pillay
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Felix Lohmann
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - James J Bieker
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Black Familly Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
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16
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Finotti A, Gasparello J, Zuccato C, Cosenza LC, Fabbri E, Bianchi N, Gambari R. Effects of Mithramycin on BCL11A Gene Expression and on the Interaction of the BCL11A Transcriptional Complex to γ-Globin Gene Promoter Sequences. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1927. [PMID: 37895276 PMCID: PMC10606601 DOI: 10.3390/genes14101927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The anticancer drug mithramycin (MTH), has been proposed for drug repurposing after the finding that it is a potent inducer of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production in erythroid precursor cells (ErPCs) from β-thalassemia patients. In this respect, previously published studies indicate that MTH is very active in inducing increased expression of γ-globin genes in erythroid cells. This is clinically relevant, as it is firmly established that HbF induction is a valuable approach for the therapy of β-thalassemia and for ameliorating the clinical parameters of sickle-cell disease (SCD). Therefore, the identification of MTH biochemical/molecular targets is of great interest. This study is inspired by recent robust evidence indicating that the expression of γ-globin genes is controlled in adult erythroid cells by different transcriptional repressors, including Oct4, MYB, BCL11A, Sp1, KLF3 and others. Among these, BCL11A is very important. In the present paper we report evidence indicating that alterations of BCL11A gene expression and biological functions occur during MTH-mediated erythroid differentiation. Our study demonstrates that one of the mechanisms of action of MTH is a down-regulation of the transcription of the BCL11A gene, while a second mechanism of action is the inhibition of the molecular interactions between the BCL11A complex and specific sequences of the γ-globin gene promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (E.F.); (N.B.)
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (E.F.); (N.B.)
| | - Cristina Zuccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (E.F.); (N.B.)
| | - Lucia Carmela Cosenza
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (E.F.); (N.B.)
| | - Enrica Fabbri
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (E.F.); (N.B.)
| | - Nicoletta Bianchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (E.F.); (N.B.)
- Department of Translational Medicine and for Romagna, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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17
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Zhang F, Zhang B, Wang Y, Jiang R, Liu J, Wei Y, Gao X, Zhu Y, Wang X, Sun M, Kang J, Liu Y, You G, Wei D, Xin J, Bao J, Wang M, Gu Y, Wang Z, Ye J, Guo S, Huang H, Sun Q. An extra-erythrocyte role of haemoglobin body in chondrocyte hypoxia adaption. Nature 2023; 622:834-841. [PMID: 37794190 PMCID: PMC10600011 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06611-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Although haemoglobin is a known carrier of oxygen in erythrocytes that functions to transport oxygen over a long range, its physiological roles outside erythrocytes are largely elusive1,2. Here we found that chondrocytes produced massive amounts of haemoglobin to form eosin-positive bodies in their cytoplasm. The haemoglobin body (Hedy) is a membraneless condensate characterized by phase separation. Production of haemoglobin in chondrocytes is controlled by hypoxia and is dependent on KLF1 rather than the HIF1/2α pathway. Deletion of haemoglobin in chondrocytes leads to Hedy loss along with severe hypoxia, enhanced glycolysis and extensive cell death in the centre of cartilaginous tissue, which is attributed to the loss of the Hedy-controlled oxygen supply under hypoxic conditions. These results demonstrate an extra-erythrocyte role of haemoglobin in chondrocytes, and uncover a heretofore unrecognized mechanism in which chondrocytes survive a hypoxic environment through Hedy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- Frontier Biotechnology Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Science; Research Unit of Cell Death Mechanism, 2021RU008, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Nanhu Laboratory, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yuying Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Runmin Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuexian Wei
- Frontier Biotechnology Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Science; Research Unit of Cell Death Mechanism, 2021RU008, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Nanhu Laboratory, Jiaxing, China
| | - Xinyue Gao
- Frontier Biotechnology Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Science; Research Unit of Cell Death Mechanism, 2021RU008, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Nanhu Laboratory, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yichao Zhu
- Frontier Biotechnology Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Science; Research Unit of Cell Death Mechanism, 2021RU008, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Nanhu Laboratory, Jiaxing, China
| | - Xinli Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Mao Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Junjun Kang
- Department of Neurobiology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guoxing You
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ding Wei
- Department of Cell Biology, National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiajia Xin
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Junxiang Bao
- Department of Aerospace Hygiene, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Meiqing Wang
- Department of Oral Anatomy and Physiology, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yu Gu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuangping Guo
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Air Force Medical Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongyan Huang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Sun
- Frontier Biotechnology Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Science; Research Unit of Cell Death Mechanism, 2021RU008, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China.
- Nanhu Laboratory, Jiaxing, China.
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18
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Singha K, Teawtrakul N, Fucharoen G, Fucharoen S. Molecular and haematological characterisation of haemolytic anaemia associated with biallelic KLF1 mutations: a case series. J Clin Pathol 2023:jcp-2023-208945. [PMID: 37507221 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2023-208945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) is an erythroid-specific transcription factor playing an important role in erythropoiesis and haemoglobin (Hb) switching. Biallelic KLF1 mutations can cause haemolytic anaemia with thalassaemia-like syndromes but are rarely reported. We explore the KLF1 mutations in Thai subjects with unexplainable haemolytic anaemia. METHODS The study was done on 57 subjects presented with haemolytic anaemia and elevated Hb F without β-thalassaemia diseases. Hb analysis was performed using capillary electrophoresis. Analyses of α-thalassaemia, β-thalassaemia and KLF1 genes were performed using PCR-based methods and DNA sequencing. RESULTS Thirteen subjects with compound heterozygous for a known and five new genetic KLF1 interactions were identified, including KLF1:c.519_525dupCGGCGCC/c.892G>C with class 3/2 (n=8), and each subject with new genetic interaction, including KLF1:c.-154C>T;643C>T/c.983G>A with class 3/2, KLF1:c.-154C>T;643C>T/c.809C>G with class 3/2, KLF1:c892G>C/c.983G>A with class 2/2, KLF1:c.892G>C/c.1001C>G with class 2/2 and KLF1:c.1001C>G/c.1003G>A with class 2/2. Most of them had anaemia with Hb levels ranging from 45 to 110 g/L, hypochromic microcytosis, aniso-poikilocytosis, increased Hb F levels (17.9%-47.4%), small amounts of Hb Bart's, regular blood transfusion, hyperbilirubinaemia, increased serum ferritin and nucleated red blood cell. CONCLUSIONS Biallelic KLF1 mutations associated with anaemia may not be uncommon in Thailand. Characteristics of haemolytic anaemia, abnormal red cell morphology with nucleated red blood cells and elevated Hb F, and presenting small amounts of Hb Bart's without thalassaemia diseases are useful markers to further investigation of the KLF1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritsada Singha
- Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand
- Centre for Research & Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Nattiya Teawtrakul
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Goonnapa Fucharoen
- Centre for Research & Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Supan Fucharoen
- Centre for Research & Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
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19
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Lee SJ, Jung C, Oh JE, Kim S, Lee S, Lee JY, Yoon YS. Generation of Red Blood Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells-An Update. Cells 2023; 12:1554. [PMID: 37296674 PMCID: PMC10253210 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a lifesaving medical procedure that can treat patients with anemia and hemoglobin disorders. However, the shortage of blood supply and risks of transfusion-transmitted infection and immune incompatibility present a challenge for transfusion. The in vitro generation of RBCs or erythrocytes holds great promise for transfusion medicine and novel cell-based therapies. While hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors derived from peripheral blood, cord blood, and bone marrow can give rise to erythrocytes, the use of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) has also provided an important opportunity to obtain erythrocytes. These hPSCs include both human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). As hESCs carry ethical and political controversies, hiPSCs can be a more universal source for RBC generation. In this review, we first discuss the key concepts and mechanisms of erythropoiesis. Thereafter, we summarize different methodologies to differentiate hPSCs into erythrocytes with an emphasis on the key features of human definitive erythroid lineage cells. Finally, we address the current limitations and future directions of clinical applications using hiPSC-derived erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Jeong Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (S.-J.L.); (C.J.); (J.E.O.); (S.K.)
- Research and Development Center, KarisBio Inc., 50-1 Yonsei-Ro, Avison Biomedical Research Center Room 525, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Cholomi Jung
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (S.-J.L.); (C.J.); (J.E.O.); (S.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Eun Oh
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (S.-J.L.); (C.J.); (J.E.O.); (S.K.)
- Research and Development Center, KarisBio Inc., 50-1 Yonsei-Ro, Avison Biomedical Research Center Room 525, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangsung Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (S.-J.L.); (C.J.); (J.E.O.); (S.K.)
- Research and Development Center, KarisBio Inc., 50-1 Yonsei-Ro, Avison Biomedical Research Center Room 525, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangho Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Ji Yoon Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (S.-J.L.); (C.J.); (J.E.O.); (S.K.)
| | - Young-sup Yoon
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; (S.-J.L.); (C.J.); (J.E.O.); (S.K.)
- Research and Development Center, KarisBio Inc., 50-1 Yonsei-Ro, Avison Biomedical Research Center Room 525, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
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20
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Gnanapragasam MN, Planutis A, Glassberg JA, Bieker JJ. Identification of a genomic DNA sequence that quantitatively modulates KLF1 transcription factor expression in differentiating human hematopoietic cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7589. [PMID: 37165057 PMCID: PMC10172341 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34805-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset of erythropoiesis is under strict developmental control, with direct and indirect inputs influencing its derivation from the hematopoietic stem cell. A major regulator of this transition is KLF1/EKLF, a zinc finger transcription factor that plays a global role in all aspects of erythropoiesis. Here, we have identified a short, conserved enhancer element in KLF1 intron 1 that is important for establishing optimal levels of KLF1 in mouse and human cells. Chromatin accessibility of this site exhibits cell-type specificity and is under developmental control during the differentiation of human CD34+ cells towards the erythroid lineage. This site binds GATA1, SMAD1, TAL1, and ETV6. In vivo editing of this region in cell lines and primary cells reduces KLF1 expression quantitatively. However, we find that, similar to observations seen in pedigrees of families with KLF1 mutations, downstream effects are variable, suggesting that the global architecture of the site is buffered towards keeping the KLF1 genetic region in an active state. We propose that modification of intron 1 in both alleles is not equivalent to complete loss of function of one allele.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Gnanapragasam
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - A Planutis
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - J A Glassberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - J J Bieker
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA.
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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21
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Arif T, Farooq A, Ahmad FJ, Akhtar M, Choudhery MS. Prime editing: A potential treatment option for β-thalassemia. Cell Biol Int 2023; 47:699-713. [PMID: 36480796 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The potential to therapeutically alter the genome is one of the remarkable scientific developments in recent years. Genome editing technologies have provided an opportunity to precisely alter genomic sequence(s) in eukaryotic cells as a treatment option for various genetic disorders. These technologies allow the correction of harmful mutations in patients by precise nucleotide editing. Genome editing technologies such as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) and base editors have greatly contributed to the practical applications of gene editing. However, these technologies have certain limitations, including imperfect editing, undesirable mutations, off-target effects, and lack of potential to simultaneously edit multiple loci. Recently, prime editing (PE) has emerged as a new gene editing technology with the potential to overcome the above-mentioned limitations. Interestingly, PE not only has higher specificity but also does not require double-strand breaks. In addition, a minimum possibility of potential off-target mutant sites makes PE a preferred choice for therapeutic gene editing. Furthermore, PE has the potential to introduce insertion and deletions of all 12 single-base mutations at target sequences. Considering its potential, PE has been applied as a treatment option for genetic diseases including hemoglobinopathies. β-Thalassemia, for example, one of the most significant blood disorders characterized by reduced levels of functional hemoglobin, could potentially be treated using PE. Therapeutic reactivation of the γ-globin gene in adult β-thalassemia patients through PE technology is considered a promising therapeutic strategy. The current review aims to briefly discuss the genome editing strategies and potential applications of PE for the treatment of β-thalassemia. In addition, the review will also focus on challenges associated with the use of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taqdees Arif
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Aroosa Farooq
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Fridoon Jawad Ahmad
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Akhtar
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Punjab Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Mahmood S Choudhery
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
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22
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Abstract
Thalassemia syndromes are common monogenic disorders and represent a significant health issue worldwide. In this review, the authors elaborate on fundamental genetic knowledge about thalassemias, including the structure and location of globin genes, the production of hemoglobin during development, the molecular lesions causing α-, β-, and other thalassemia syndromes, the genotype-phenotype correlation, and the genetic modifiers of these conditions. In addition, they briefly discuss the molecular techniques applied for diagnosis and innovative cell and gene therapy strategies to cure these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Tesio
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Torino, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy. https://twitter.com/nicolotesio
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Broad Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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23
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Catapano R, Sessa R, Trombetti S, Cesaro E, Russo F, Izzo P, Makis A, Grosso M. Identification and Functional Analysis of Known and New Mutations in the Transcription Factor KLF1 Linked with β-Thalassemia-like Phenotypes. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040510. [PMID: 37106711 PMCID: PMC10135830 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The erythroid transcriptional factor Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) is a master regulator of erythropoiesis. Mutations that cause KLF1 haploinsufficiency have been linked to increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) levels with ameliorative effects on the severity of β-thalassemia. With the aim of determining if KLF1 gene variations might play a role in the modulation of β-thalassemia, in this study we screened 17 subjects showing a β-thalassemia-like phenotype with a slight or marked increase in HbA2 and HbF levels. Overall, seven KLF1 gene variants were identified, of which two were novel. Functional studies were performed in K562 cells to clarify the pathogenic significance of these mutations. Our study confirmed the ameliorative effect on the thalassemia phenotype for some of these variants but also raised the notion that certain mutations may have deteriorating effects by increasing KLF1 expression levels or enhancing its transcriptional activity. Our results indicate that functional studies are required to evaluate the possible effects of KLF1 mutations, particularly in the case of the co-existence of two or more mutations that could differently contribute to KLF1 expression or transcriptional activity and consequently to the thalassemia phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Catapano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Sessa
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Trombetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Cesaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Filippo Russo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Izzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alexandros Makis
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Ioannina, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Michela Grosso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence:
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24
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Impact of Genetic Polymorphisms in Modifier Genes in Determining Fetal Hemoglobin Levels in Beta-Thalassemia. THALASSEMIA REPORTS 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/thalassrep13010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic polymorphisms in Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) genes such as BCL11A, HBS1L-MYB and KLF1 have been reported to influence fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels. This prospective study was planned to evaluate the role of genetic polymorphisms in QTL genes as determinant of HbF levels in beta thalassemia major patients. The study was carried out on 100 thalassemia major patients. Blood samples were collected in EDTA and plain vials for biochemical and molecular evaluation. The BCL11A, HBS1L-MYB and KLF1 genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method. Red Blood Cell (RBC) indices and HbF levels were assessed. In silico analysis was assessed using loss-of-function tool (Lof Tool). Statistical difference and genetic comparisons between groups were evaluated by using SPSS for Windows, version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Comparisons between quantitative variables were carried out after data explored for normality using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test of normality. Logistic regression was used for computation of ORs and 95% CIs (Confidence Interval). We observed association of HbF levels in thalassemia major patients with the polymorphisms in BCL11A (rs11886868 rs7557939; rs1427407 and rs766432) and HBS1L-MYB (rs9399137) gene. The results of this study indicated that the presence of polymorphisms on modifier genes are strongly associated with an increase in HbF levels in thalassemia major patients. Further research with a larger sample size and with other genes of modifier genes is required.
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25
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In Vitro Human Haematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060896. [PMID: 36980237 PMCID: PMC10046976 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The haematopoietic system plays an essential role in our health and survival. It is comprised of a range of mature blood and immune cell types, including oxygen-carrying erythrocytes, platelet-producing megakaryocytes and infection-fighting myeloid and lymphoid cells. Self-renewing multipotent haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and a range of intermediate haematopoietic progenitor cell types differentiate into these mature cell types to continuously support haematopoietic system homeostasis throughout life. This process of haematopoiesis is tightly regulated in vivo and primarily takes place in the bone marrow. Over the years, a range of in vitro culture systems have been developed, either to expand haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells or to differentiate them into the various haematopoietic lineages, based on the use of recombinant cytokines, co-culture systems and/or small molecules. These approaches provide important tractable models to study human haematopoiesis in vitro. Additionally, haematopoietic cell culture systems are being developed and clinical tested as a source of cell products for transplantation and transfusion medicine. This review discusses the in vitro culture protocols for human HSC expansion and differentiation, and summarises the key factors involved in these biological processes.
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26
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Fontana L, Alahouzou Z, Miccio A, Antoniou P. Epigenetic Regulation of β-Globin Genes and the Potential to Treat Hemoglobinopathies through Epigenome Editing. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030577. [PMID: 36980849 PMCID: PMC10048329 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta-like globin gene expression is developmentally regulated during life by transcription factors, chromatin looping and epigenome modifications of the β-globin locus. Epigenome modifications, such as histone methylation/demethylation and acetylation/deacetylation and DNA methylation, are associated with up- or down-regulation of gene expression. The understanding of these mechanisms and their outcome in gene expression has paved the way to the development of new therapeutic strategies for treating various diseases, such as β-hemoglobinopathies. Histone deacetylase and DNA methyl-transferase inhibitors are currently being tested in clinical trials for hemoglobinopathies patients. However, these approaches are often uncertain, non-specific and their global effect poses serious safety concerns. Epigenome editing is a recently developed and promising tool that consists of a DNA recognition domain (zinc finger, transcription activator-like effector or dead clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats Cas9) fused to the catalytic domain of a chromatin-modifying enzyme. It offers a more specific targeting of disease-related genes (e.g., the ability to reactivate the fetal γ-globin genes and improve the hemoglobinopathy phenotype) and it facilitates the development of scarless gene therapy approaches. Here, we summarize the mechanisms of epigenome regulation of the β-globin locus, and we discuss the application of epigenome editing for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Fontana
- Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, Université Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Zoe Alahouzou
- Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, Université Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Annarita Miccio
- Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, Université Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (P.A.)
| | - Panagiotis Antoniou
- Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, Université Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, 431 50 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (P.A.)
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27
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Suwito BE, Adji AS, Widjaja JS, Angel SCS, Al Hajiri AZZ, Salamy NFW, Choirotussanijjah C. A Review of CRISPR Cas9 for SCA: Treatment Strategies and Could Target β-globin Gene and BCL11A Gene using CRISPR Cas9 Prevent the Patient from Sickle Cell Anemia? Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2023.11435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary globin chain condition that leads to hemolysis and persistent organ damage. Chronic hemolytic anemia, severe acute and chronic pain, and end-organ destruction occur throughout the lifespan of sickle cell anemia. SCD is associated with a higher risk of mortality. Genome editing with CRISPR-associated regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) have therapeutic potential for sickle cell anemia thala.
AIM: This research aimed to see if using CRISPR/Cas9 to target β-globin gene is an effective therapeutic and if it has a long-term effect on Sickle Cell Anemia.
METHODS: The method used in this study summarizes the article by looking for keywords that have been determined in the title and abstract. The authors used official guidelines from Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Journal Molecular Biology to select full-text articles published within the last decade, prioritizing searches within the past 10 years.
RESULTS: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in clinical trials contributes to α-globin gene deletion correcting β-thalassemia through balanced α- and β-globin ratios and inhibiting disease progression.
CONCLUSION: HBB and BCL11A targeting by CRISPR/Cas9 deletion effectively inactivate BCL11A, a repressor of fetal hemoglobin production. However, further research is needed to determine its side effects and safety.
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28
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Mahmoud Ahmed NH, Lai MI. The Novel Role of the B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia 11A (BCL11A) Gene in β-Thalassaemia Treatment. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets 2023; 22:226-236. [PMID: 36734897 DOI: 10.2174/1871529x23666230123140926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
β-thalassaemia is a genetic disorder resulting in a reduction or absence of β-globin gene expression. Due to the high prevalence of β-thalassaemia and the lack of available treatment other than blood transfusion and haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, the disease represents a considerable burden to clinical and economic systems. Foetal haemoglobin has an appreciated ameliorating effect in β-haemoglobinopathy, as the γ-globin chain substitutes the β-globin chain reduction by pairing with the excess α-globin chain in β-thalassaemia and reduces sickling in sickle cell disease (SCD). BCL11A is a critical regulator and repressor of foetal haemoglobin. Downregulation of BCL11A in adult erythroblasts and cell lines expressing adult haemoglobin led to a significant increase in foetal haemoglobin levels. Disruption of BCL11A erythroid enhancer resulted in disruption of the BCL11A gene solely in the erythroid lineages and increased γ-globin expression in adult erythroid cells. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy represents an attractive treatment option to overcome the immune complications and donor availability associated with allogeneic transplantation. Using genome editing technologies, the disruption of BCL11A to induce γ- globin expression in HSCs has emerged as an alternative approach to treat β-thalassaemia. Targeting the +58 BCL11A erythroid enhancer or BCL11A binding motif at the γ-gene promoter with CRISPR-Cas9 or base editors has successfully disrupted the gene and the binding motif with a subsequent increment in HbF levels. This review outlines the critical role of BCL11A in γ-globin gene silencing and discusses the different genome editing approaches to downregulate BCL11A as a means for ameliorating β-thalassaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahil Hassan Mahmoud Ahmed
- Haematology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mei I Lai
- Haematology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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29
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CRISPR/Cas9, a promising approach for the treatment of β-thalassemia: a systematic review. Mol Genet Genomics 2023; 298:1-11. [PMID: 36403178 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01978-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 technique is easily programmable, fast, more powerful, and efficient at generating a mutation compared to previous gene therapy methods. β-thalassemia is the most common autosomal recessive disorder worldwide. Appropriate genomic changes in the β gene can be modified to alleviate the symptoms of the disease using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and SID databases were searched in Persian and English from February 2000 to September 2022. Finally, 39 articles had inclusion criteria which were reviewed by two separate individuals. Among the reviewed articles, articles were divided into three categories. In the first group, studies attemped to increase the expression of γ-globin and production of hemoglobin F. The strategy of second group of studies were the reduction of the α-globin chain to prevent hemolysis of RBCs by accumulation of excessive α-globins. The third group corrected the mutations causing β-thalassemia. Studies have shown that the genome of β-thalassemia patients can be modified using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, and this approach might be promising for the treatment of β-thalassemia.
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30
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Zhu J, Li H, Aerbajinai W, Kumkhaek C, Pirooznia M, Saxena A, Dagur P, Chin K, Rodgers GP. Kruppel-like factor 1-GATA1 fusion protein improves the sickle cell disease phenotype in mice both in vitro and in vivo. Blood 2022; 140:2276-2289. [PMID: 36399071 PMCID: PMC9837447 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021014877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia are among the most common genetic disorders worldwide, affecting global health and mortality. Hemoglobin A2 (HbA2, α2δ2) is expressed at a low level in adult blood due to the lack of the Kruppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) binding motif in the δ-globin promoter region. However, HbA2 is fully functional as an oxygen transporter, and could be a valid antisickling agent in SCD, as well as a substitute for hemoglobin A in β-thalassemia. We have previously demonstrated that KLF1-GATA1 fusion protein could interact with the δ-globin promoter and increase δ-globin expression in human primary CD34+ cells. We report the effects of 2 KLF1-GATA1 fusion proteins on hemoglobin expression, as well as SCD phenotypic correction in vitro and in vivo. Forced expression of KLF1-GATA1 fusion protein enhanced δ-globin gene and HbA2 expression, as well as reduced hypoxia-related sickling, in erythroid cells cultured from both human sickle CD34+ cells and SCD mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The fusion proteins had no impact on erythroid cell differentiation, proliferation, and enucleation. Transplantation of highly purified SCD mouse HSCs expressing KLF1-GATA1 fusion protein into SCD mice lessened the severity of the anemia, reduced the sickling of red blood cells, improved SCD-related pathological alterations in spleen, kidney, and liver, and restored urine-concentrating ability in recipient mice. Taken together, these results indicate that the use of KLF1-GATA1 fusion constructs may represent a new gene therapy approach for hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiong Zhu
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Hongzhen Li
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Wulin Aerbajinai
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Chutima Kumkhaek
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Mehdi Pirooznia
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Core, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ankit Saxena
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Pradeep Dagur
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Kyung Chin
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Griffin P. Rodgers
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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31
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Quagliano A, Acevedo D, Hardigan P, Prasad S. Using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats gene editing to induce permanent expression of fetal hemoglobin in β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease: A comparative meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:943631. [PMID: 36250099 PMCID: PMC9556862 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.943631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
β-hemoglobinopathies like sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia are characterized by differing mutations in the hemoglobin subunit beta gene (HBB). These disorders vary in phenotypic presentation and severity, with more severe manifestations leading to transfusion dependence along with associated complications such as infection and iron overload. β-hemoglobinopathies symptoms rapidly worsen after birth as the levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) begin to decline. To reverse this decline, current treatment plans typically involve the use of pharmacological agents such as hydroxyurea to raise expression levels of HbF. However, these treatments only result in transient effects and must be consistently administered. Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats- CRISPR associated protein) offer the opportunity to create novel treatments which can raise HbF expression with potential permanent effects. Two gene targets, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A gene (BCL11A) and the promoter regions of gamma globin genes (HBG1/2), have been identified to significantly increase HbF protein expression. In order to differentiate the effectiveness of BCL11A and HBG1/2 editing, a meta-analysis was performed by first identifying 119 studies for inclusion based on the search terms terms “β-Thalassemia,” “beta-thal” “sickle cell disease,” “SCD,” and “CRISPR.” Following application of exclusion and inclusion criteria, we performed analysis on 8 peer-reviewed published studies from 2018 to 2021 were included in the study. Forest plots were generated using R (version 4.1.2). Primary comparative analysis shows HBG1/2 had a significantly (p < 0.01)greater impact on induction of HbF expression compared to BCL11A. This analysis leads us to conclude that HBG1/2 merits further investigation as a possible gene editing target for treatment of SCD and β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Quagliano
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Daniel Acevedo
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Patrik Hardigan
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Samiksha Prasad
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
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32
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Huang P, Peslak SA, Ren R, Khandros E, Qin K, Keller CA, Giardine B, Bell HW, Lan X, Sharma M, Horton JR, Abdulmalik O, Chou ST, Shi J, Crossley M, Hardison RC, Cheng X, Blobel GA. HIC2 controls developmental hemoglobin switching by repressing BCL11A transcription. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1417-1426. [PMID: 35941187 PMCID: PMC9940634 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01152-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The fetal-to-adult switch in hemoglobin production is a model of developmental gene control with relevance to the treatment of hemoglobinopathies. The expression of transcription factor BCL11A, which represses fetal β-type globin (HBG) genes in adult erythroid cells, is predominantly controlled at the transcriptional level but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We identify HIC2 as a repressor of BCL11A transcription. HIC2 and BCL11A are reciprocally expressed during development. Forced expression of HIC2 in adult erythroid cells inhibits BCL11A transcription and induces HBG expression. HIC2 binds to erythroid BCL11A enhancers to reduce chromatin accessibility and binding of transcription factor GATA1, diminishing enhancer activity and enhancer-promoter contacts. DNA-binding and crystallography studies reveal direct steric hindrance as one mechanism by which HIC2 inhibits GATA1 binding at a critical BCL11A enhancer. Conversely, loss of HIC2 in fetal erythroblasts increases enhancer accessibility, GATA1 binding and BCL11A transcription. HIC2 emerges as an evolutionarily conserved regulator of hemoglobin switching via developmental control of BCL11A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Huang
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Scott A. Peslak
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ren Ren
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eugene Khandros
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kunhua Qin
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cheryl A. Keller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Genomics Research Incubator, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Belinda Giardine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Henry W. Bell
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xianjiang Lan
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malini Sharma
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John R. Horton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stella T. Chou
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Merlin Crossley
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ross C. Hardison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gerd A. Blobel
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Peng Huang or Gerd A. Blobel. ;
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LRF Promotes Indirectly Advantageous Chromatin Conformation via BGLT3-lncRNA Expression and Switch from Fetal to Adult Hemoglobin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137025. [PMID: 35806029 PMCID: PMC9266405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The hemoglobin switch from fetal (HbF) to adult (HbA) has been studied intensively as an essential model for gene expression regulation, but also as a beneficial therapeutic approach for β-hemoglobinopathies, towards the objective of reactivating HbF. The transcription factor LRF (Leukemia/lymphoma-related), encoded from the ZBTB7A gene has been implicated in fetal hemoglobin silencing, though has a wide range of functions that have not been fully clarified. We thus established the LRF/ZBTB7A-overexpressing and ZBTB7A-knockdown K562 (human erythroleukemia cell line) clones to assess fetal vs. adult hemoglobin production pre- and post-induction. Transgenic K562 clones were further developed and studied under the influence of epigenetic chromatin regulators, such as DNA methyl transferase 3 (DNMT3) and Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), to evaluate LRF’s potential disturbance upon the aberrant epigenetic background and provide valuable information of the preferable epigenetic frame, in which LRF unfolds its action on the β-type globin’s expression. The ChIP-seq analysis demonstrated that LRF binds to γ-globin genes (HBG2/1) and apparently associates BCL11A for their silencing, but also during erythropoiesis induction, LRF binds the BGLT3 gene, promoting BGLT3-lncRNA production through the γ-δ intergenic region of β-type globin’s locus, triggering the transcriptional events from γ- to β-globin switch. Our findings are supported by an up-to-date looping model, which highlights chromatin alterations during erythropoiesis at late stages of gestation, to establish an “open” chromatin conformation across the γ-δ intergenic region and accomplish β-globin expression and hemoglobin switch.
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34
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Luanpitpong S, Kang X, Janan M, Thumanu K, Li J, Kheolamai P, Issaragrisil S. Metabolic sensor O-GlcNAcylation regulates erythroid differentiation and globin production via BCL11A. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:274. [PMID: 35739577 PMCID: PMC9219246 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02954-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human erythropoiesis is a tightly regulated, multistep process encompassing the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) toward mature erythrocytes. Cellular metabolism is an important regulator of cell fate determination during the differentiation of HSCs. However, how O-GlcNAcylation, a posttranslational modification of proteins that is an ideal metabolic sensor, contributes to the commitment of HSCs to the erythroid lineage and to the terminal erythroid differentiation has not been addressed. Methods Cellular O-GlcNAcylation was manipulated using small molecule inhibition or CRISPR/Cas9 manipulation of catalyzing enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and removing enzyme O-GlcNAcase (OGA) in two cell models of erythroid differentiation, starting from: (i) human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to investigate the erythroid lineage specification and differentiation; and (ii) human-derived erythroblastic leukemia K562 cells to investigate the terminal differentiation. The functional and regulatory roles of O-GlcNAcylation in erythroid differentiation, maturation, and globin production were investigated, and downstream signaling was delineated. Results First, we observed that two-step inhibition of OGT and OGA, which were established from the observed dynamics of O-GlcNAc level along the course of differentiation, promotes HSPCs toward erythroid differentiation and enucleation, in agreement with an upregulation of a multitude of erythroid-associated genes. Further studies in the efficient K562 model of erythroid differentiation confirmed that OGA inhibition and subsequent hyper-O-GlcNAcylation enhance terminal erythroid differentiation and affect globin production. Mechanistically, we found that BCL11A is a key mediator of O-GlcNAc-driven erythroid differentiation and β- and α-globin production herein. Additionally, analysis of biochemical contents using synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed unique metabolic fingerprints upon OGA inhibition during erythroid differentiation, supporting that metabolic reprogramming plays a part in this process. Conclusions The evidence presented here demonstrated the novel regulatory role of O-GlcNAc/BCL11A axis in erythroid differentiation, maturation, and globin production that could be important in understanding erythropoiesis and hematologic disorders whose etiology is related to impaired erythroid differentiation and hemoglobinopathies. Our findings may lay the groundwork for future clinical applications toward an ex vivo production of functional human reticulocytes for transfusion from renewable cell sources, i.e., HSPCs and pluripotent stem cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-02954-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudjit Luanpitpong
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Siriraj Hospital, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
| | - Xing Kang
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Siriraj Hospital, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Montira Janan
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Siriraj Hospital, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Kanjana Thumanu
- Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization), Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Jingting Li
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Department of Burns, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pakpoom Kheolamai
- Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Surapol Issaragrisil
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Siriraj Hospital, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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35
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Rahimmanesh I, Boshtam M, Kouhpayeh S, Khanahmad H, Dabiri A, Ahangarzadeh S, Esmaeili Y, Bidram E, Vaseghi G, Haghjooy Javanmard S, Shariati L, Zarrabi A, Varma RS. Gene Editing-Based Technologies for Beta-hemoglobinopathies Treatment. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11060862. [PMID: 35741383 PMCID: PMC9219845 DOI: 10.3390/biology11060862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Beta (β)-thalassemia is a group of human inherited abnormalities caused by various molecular defects, which involves a decrease or cessation in the balanced synthesis of the β-globin chains in hemoglobin structure. Traditional treatment for β-thalassemia major is allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from a completely matched donor. The limited number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donors, long-term use of immunosuppressive regimen and higher risk of immunological complications have limited the application of this therapeutic approach. Furthermore, despite improvements in transfusion practices and chelation treatment, many lingering challenges have encouraged researchers to develop newer therapeutic strategies such as nanomedicine and gene editing. One of the most powerful arms of genetic manipulation is gene editing tools, including transcription activator-like effector nucleases, zinc-finger nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-Cas-associated nucleases. These tools have concentrated on γ- or β-globin addition, regulating the transcription factors involved in expression of endogenous γ-globin such as KLF1, silencing of γ-globin inhibitors including BCL11A, SOX6, and LRF/ZBTB7A, and gene repair strategies. In this review article, we present a systematic overview of the appliances of gene editing tools for β-thalassemia treatment and paving the way for patients' therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilnaz Rahimmanesh
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Maryam Boshtam
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81583-88994, Iran
| | - Shirin Kouhpayeh
- Erythron Genetics and Pathobiology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Isfahan 76351-81647, Iran
| | - Hossein Khanahmad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Arezou Dabiri
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Ahangarzadeh
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Yasaman Esmaeili
- Biosensor Research Center, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Elham Bidram
- Biosensor Research Center, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Golnaz Vaseghi
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81583-88994, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Laleh Shariati
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
- Cancer Prevention Research, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 73461-81746, Iran
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Turkey
| | - Rajender S Varma
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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36
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Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in XMN1-HBG2, HBS1L-MYB, and BCL11A and Their Relation to High Fetal Hemoglobin Levels That Alleviate Anemia. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12061374. [PMID: 35741184 PMCID: PMC9221560 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Anemia is a condition in which red blood cells and/or hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations are decreased below the normal range, resulting in a lack of oxygen being transported to tissues and organs. Those afflicted with this condition may feel lethargic and weak, which reduces their quality of life. The condition may be manifested in inherited blood disorders, such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease, whereas acquired disorders include aplastic anemia, chronic disease, drug toxicity, pregnancy, and nutritional deficiency. The augmentation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) results in the reduction in clinical symptoms in beta-hemoglobinopathies. Several transcription factors as well as medications such as hydroxyurea may help red blood cells produce more HbF. HbF expression increases with the downregulation of three main quantitative trait loci, namely, the XMN1-HBG2, HBS1L-MYB, and BCL11A genes. These genes contain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that modulate the expression of HbF differently in various populations. Allele discrimination is important in SNP genotyping and is widely applied in many assays. In conclusion, the expression of HbF with a genetic modifier is crucial in determining the severity of anemic diseases, and genetic modification of HbF expression may offer clinical benefits in diagnosis and disease management.
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37
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Andrieu-Soler C, Soler E. Erythroid Cell Research: 3D Chromatin, Transcription Factors and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6149. [PMID: 35682828 PMCID: PMC9181152 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of the regulatory networks and signals controlling erythropoiesis have brought important insights in several research fields of biology and have been a rich source of discoveries with far-reaching implications beyond erythroid cells biology. The aim of this review is to highlight key recent discoveries and show how studies of erythroid cells bring forward novel concepts and refine current models related to genome and 3D chromatin organization, signaling and disease, with broad interest in life sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Soler
- IGMM, Université Montpellier, CNRS, 34093 Montpellier, France;
- Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France
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38
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Qin K, Huang P, Feng R, Keller CA, Peslak SA, Khandros E, Saari MS, Lan X, Mayuranathan T, Doerfler PA, Abdulmalik O, Giardine B, Chou ST, Shi J, Hardison RC, Weiss MJ, Blobel GA. Dual function NFI factors control fetal hemoglobin silencing in adult erythroid cells. Nat Genet 2022; 54:874-884. [PMID: 35618846 PMCID: PMC9203980 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01076-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which the fetal-type β-globin-like genes HBG1 and HBG2 are silenced in adult erythroid precursor cells remain a fundamental question in human biology and have therapeutic relevance to sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia. Here, we identify via a CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screen two members of the NFI transcription factor family – NFIA and NFIX – as HBG1/2 repressors. NFIA and NFIX are expressed at elevated levels in adult erythroid cells compared to fetal cells, and function cooperatively to repress HBG1/2 in cultured cells and in human-to-mouse xenotransplants. Genomic profiling, genome editing, and DNA binding assays demonstrate that the potent concerted activity of NFIA and NFIX is explained in part by their ability to stimulate the expression of BCL11A, a known silencer of the HBG1/2 genes, and in part by directly repressing the HBG1/2 genes. Thus, NFI factors emerge as versatile regulators of the fetal-to-adult switch in β-globin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunhua Qin
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peng Huang
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ruopeng Feng
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Cheryl A Keller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Scott A Peslak
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eugene Khandros
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Megan S Saari
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xianjiang Lan
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Phillip A Doerfler
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Belinda Giardine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stella T Chou
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junwei Shi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ross C Hardison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Mitchell J Weiss
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Gerd A Blobel
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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39
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Zhang H, Sun R, Fei J, Chen H, Lu D. Correction of Beta-Thalassemia IVS-II-654 Mutation in a Mouse Model Using Prime Editing. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23115948. [PMID: 35682629 PMCID: PMC9180235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23115948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prime editing was used to insert and correct various pathogenic mutations except for beta-thalassemia variants, which disrupt functional beta-globin and prevent hemoglobin assembly in erythrocytes. This study investigated the effect of gene correction using prime editor version 3 (PE3) in a mouse model with the human beta-thalassemia IVS-II-654 mutation (C > T). The T conversion generates a 5′ donor site at intron 2 of the beta-globin gene resulting in aberrant splicing of pre-mRNA, which affects beta-globin expression. We microinjected PE3 components (pegRNA, nick sgRNA, and PE2 mRNA) into the zygotes from IVS-II-654 mice to generate mutation-edited mice. Genome sequencing of the IVS-II-654 site showed that PE3 installed the correction (T > C), with an editing efficiency of 14.29%. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that the PE3-induced conversion restored normal splicing of beta-globin mRNA. Subsequent comprehensive phenotypic analysis of thalassemia symptoms, including anemic hematological parameters, anisocytosis, splenomegaly, cardiac hypertrophy, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and iron overload, showed that the corrected IVS-II-654 mice had a normal phenotype identical to the wild type mice. Off-target analysis of pegRNA and nick sgRNA additionally showed the genomic safety of PE3. These results suggest that correction of beta-thalassemia mutation by PE3 may be a straightforward therapeutic strategy for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haokun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China;
| | - Ruilin Sun
- Shanghai Model Organisms Center, No.3577 Jinke Rd., Shanghai 201203, China; (R.S.); (J.F.)
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Model Organisms Center, No.3577 Jinke Rd., Shanghai 201203, China; (R.S.); (J.F.)
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China;
- Correspondence: (H.C.); (D.L.)
| | - Daru Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China;
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning, Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing 404100, China
- Correspondence: (H.C.); (D.L.)
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40
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Tissue-Specific Variations in Transcription Factors Elucidate Complex Immune System Regulation. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050929. [PMID: 35627314 PMCID: PMC9140347 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression plays a key role in health and disease. Estimating the genetic components underlying gene expression can thus help understand disease etiology. Polygenic models termed “transcriptome imputation” are used to estimate the genetic component of gene expression, but these models typically consider only the cis regions of the gene. However, these cis-based models miss large variability in expression for multiple genes. Transcription factors (TFs) that regulate gene expression are natural candidates for looking for additional sources of the missing variability. We developed a hypothesis-driven approach to identify second-tier regulation by variability in TFs. Our approach tested two models representing possible mechanisms by which variations in TFs can affect gene expression: variability in the expression of the TF and genetic variants within the TF that may affect the binding affinity of the TF to the TF-binding site. We tested our TF models in whole blood and skeletal muscle tissues and identified TF variability that can partially explain missing gene expression for 1035 genes, 76% of which explains more than the cis-based models. While the discovered regulation patterns were tissue-specific, they were both enriched for immune system functionality, elucidating complex regulation patterns. Our hypothesis-driven approach is useful for identifying tissue-specific genetic regulation patterns involving variations in TF expression or binding.
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41
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Starlard-Davenport A, Gu Q, Pace BS. Targeting Genetic Modifiers of HBG Gene Expression in Sickle Cell Disease: The miRNA Option. Mol Diagn Ther 2022; 26:497-509. [PMID: 35553407 PMCID: PMC9098152 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hemoglobinopathy disorders that affects millions of people worldwide. Reactivation of HBG (HBG1, HBG2) gene expression and induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is an important therapeutic strategy for ameliorating the clinical symptoms and severity of SCD. Hydroxyurea is the only US FDA-approved drug with proven efficacy to induce HbF in SCD patients, yet serious complications have been associated with its use. Over the last three decades, numerous additional pharmacological agents that reactivate HBG transcription in vitro have been investigated, but few have proceeded to FDA approval, with the exception of arginine butyrate and decitabine; however, neither drug met the requirements for routine clinical use due to difficulties with oral delivery and inability to achieve therapeutic levels. Thus, novel approaches that produce sufficient efficacy, specificity, and sustainable HbF induction with low adverse effects are desirable. More recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained attention for their diagnostic and therapeutic potential to treat various diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease via targeting oncogenes and their gene products. Thus, it is plausible that miRNAs that target HBG regulatory genes may be useful for inducing HbF as a treatment for SCD. Our laboratory and others have documented the association of miRNAs with HBG activation or suppression via silencing transcriptional repressors and activators, respectively, of HBG expression. Herein, we review progress made in understanding molecular mechanisms of miRNA-mediated HBG regulation and discuss the extent to which molecular targets of HBG might be suitable prospects for development of SCD clinical therapy. Lastly, we discuss challenges with the application of miRNA delivery in vivo and provide potential strategies for overcoming barriers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Starlard-Davenport
- College of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| | - Qingqing Gu
- College of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Betty S Pace
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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42
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Caulier AL, Sankaran VG. Molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate human erythropoiesis. Blood 2022; 139:2450-2459. [PMID: 34936695 PMCID: PMC9029096 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021011044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
To enable effective oxygen transport, ∼200 billion red blood cells (RBCs) need to be produced every day in the bone marrow through the fine-tuned process of erythropoiesis. Erythropoiesis is regulated at multiple levels to ensure that defective RBC maturation or overproduction can be avoided. Here, we provide an overview of different layers of this control, ranging from cytokine signaling mechanisms that enable extrinsic regulation of RBC production to intrinsic transcriptional pathways necessary for effective erythropoiesis. Recent studies have also elucidated the importance of posttranscriptional regulation and highlighted additional gatekeeping mechanisms necessary for effective erythropoiesis. We additionally discuss the insights gained by studying human genetic variation affecting erythropoiesis and highlight the discovery of BCL11A as a regulator of hemoglobin switching through genetic studies. Finally, we provide an outlook of how our ability to measure multiple facets of this process at single-cell resolution, while accounting for the impact of human variation, will continue to refine our knowledge of erythropoiesis and how this process is perturbed in disease. As we learn more about this intricate and important process, additional opportunities to modulate erythropoiesis for therapeutic purposes will undoubtedly emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis L Caulier
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
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Chauhan W, Shoaib S, Fatma R, Zaka‐ur‐Rab Z, Afzal M. β‐thalassemia, and the advent of new Interventions beyond Transfusion and Iron chelation. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 88:3610-3626. [DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Chauhan
- Human Genetics and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh India
| | - Shoaib Shoaib
- Department of Biochemistry, JNMC Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh India
| | - Rafat Fatma
- Human Genetics and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh India
| | - Zeeba Zaka‐ur‐Rab
- Department of Pediatrics, JNMC Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh India
| | - Mohammad Afzal
- Human Genetics and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh India
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Novel histone deacetylase inhibitor CT-101 induces γ-globin gene expression in sickle erythroid progenitors with targeted epigenetic effects. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2022; 93:102626. [PMID: 34856533 PMCID: PMC9733664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2021.102626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression ameliorates the clinical severity and prolong survival in persons with sickle cell disease (SCD). Hydroxyurea (HU) is the only FDA-approved HbF inducer however, additional therapeutics that produce an additive effect in SCD are needed. To this end, development of potent Class I histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) for HbF induction represents a rational molecularly targeted approach. In studies here, we evaluated CT-101, a novel Class I-restricted HDACi, a Largazole derivative, for pharmacodynamics, cytotoxicity, and targeted epigenetic effects. In SCD-derived erythroid progenitors, CT-101 induced HbF expression with additive activity in combination with HU. CT-101 preferentially activated γ-globin gene transcription, increased acetylated histone H3 levels, and conferred an open chromatin conformation in the γ-globin promoter. These data indicate CT-101 represents a strong potential candidate as a molecularly targeted inducer of HbF.
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Sales RR, Nogueira BL, Tosatti JAG, Gomes KB, Luizon MR. Do Genetic Polymorphisms Affect Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF) Levels in Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia Treated With Hydroxyurea? A Systematic Review and Pathway Analysis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:779497. [PMID: 35126118 PMCID: PMC8814522 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.779497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydroxyurea has long been used for the treatment of sickle cell anemia (SCA), and its clinical effectiveness is related to the induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF), a major modifier of SCA phenotypes. However, there is substantial variability in response to hydroxyurea among patients with SCA. While some patients show an increase in HbF levels and an ameliorated clinical condition under low doses of hydroxyurea, other patients present a poor effect or even develop toxicity. However, the effects of genetic polymorphisms on increasing HbF levels in response to hydroxyurea in patients with SCA (Hb SS) have been less explored. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to assess whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect HbF levels in patients with SCA treated with hydroxyurea. Moreover, we performed pathway analysis using the set of genes with SNPs found to be associated with changes in HbF levels in response to hydroxyurea among the included studies. The systematic literature search was conducted on Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and Web of Science. Seven cohort studies were included following our inclusion and exclusion criteria. From the 728 genetic polymorphisms examined in the included studies, 50 different SNPs of 17 genes were found to be associated with HbF changes in patients with SCA treated with hydroxyurea, which are known to affect baseline HbF but are not restricted to them. Enrichment analysis of this gene set revealed reactome pathways with the lowest adjusted p-values and highest combined scores related to VEGF ligand–receptor interactions (R-HSA-194313; R-HSA-195399) and the urea cycle (R-HSA-70635). Pharmacogenetic studies of response to hydroxyurea therapy in patients with SCA are still scarce and markedly heterogeneous regarding candidate genes and SNPs examined for association with HbF changes and outcomes, suggesting that further studies are needed. The reviewed findings highlighted that similar to baseline HbF, changes in HbF levels upon hydroxyurea therapy are likely to be regulated by multiple loci. There is evidence that SNPs in intron 2 of BCL11A affect HbF changes in response to hydroxyurea therapy, a potential application that might improve the clinical management of SCA. Systematic Review Registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=208790).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahyssa Rodrigues Sales
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Rahyssa Rodrigues Sales, ; Marcelo Rizzatti Luizon,
| | - Bárbara Lisboa Nogueira
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Abdo Gonçalves Tosatti
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyzes, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Karina Braga Gomes
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyzes, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Rizzatti Luizon
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Rahyssa Rodrigues Sales, ; Marcelo Rizzatti Luizon,
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Gee BE, Pearson A, Buchanan-Perry I, Simon RP, Archer DR, Meller R. Whole Blood Transcriptome Analysis in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia. Front Genet 2022; 12:737741. [PMID: 35095995 PMCID: PMC8793691 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.737741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole transcriptome RNA-sequencing was performed to quantify RNA expression changes in whole blood samples collected from steady state sickle cell anemia (SCA) and control subjects. Pediatric SCA and control subjects were recruited from Atlanta (GA)-based hospital(s) systems and consented for RNA sequencing. RNA sequencing was performed on an Ion Torrent S5 sequencer, using the Ion Total RNA-seq v2 protocol. Data were aligned to the hg19 reference genome and analyzed in the Partek Genomics studio package (v7.0). 223 genes were differentially expressed between SCA and controls (± 1.5 fold change FDR p < 0.001) and 441 genes show differential transcript expression (± 1.5 fold FDR p < 0.001). Differentially expressed RNA are enriched for hemoglobin associated genes and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway genes. Further analysis shows higher gamma globin gene expression in SCA (33-fold HBG1 and 49-fold HBG2, both FDR p < 0.05), which did not correlate with hemoglobin F protein levels. eQTL analysis identified SNPs in novel non-coding RNA RYR2 gene as having a potential regulatory role in HBG1 and HBG2 expression levels. Gene expression correlation identified JHDM1D-AS1(KDM7A-DT), a non-coding RNA associated with angiogenesis, enhanced GATA1 and decreased JAK-STAT signaling to correlate with HBG1 and HBG2 mRNA levels. These data suggest novel regulatory mechanisms for fetal hemoglobin regulation, which may offer innovative therapeutic approaches for SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice E. Gee
- Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Morehouse School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andrea Pearson
- Translational Stroke Program, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Iris Buchanan-Perry
- Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Roger P. Simon
- Translational Stroke Program, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David R. Archer
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Robert Meller
- Translational Stroke Program, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Epigenomic analysis of KLF1 haploinsufficiency in primary human erythroblasts. Sci Rep 2022; 12:336. [PMID: 35013432 PMCID: PMC8748495 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04126-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency for the erythroid-specific transcription factor KLF1 is associated with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). Increased HbF ameliorates the symptoms of β-hemoglobinopathies and downregulation of KLF1 activity has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy. However, the feasibility of this approach has been challenged by the observation that KLF1 haploinsufficient individuals with the same KLF1 variant, within the same family, display a wide range of HbF levels. This phenotypic variability is not readily explained by co-inheritance of known HbF-modulating variants in the HBB, HBS1L-MYB and/or BCL11A loci. We studied cultured erythroid progenitors obtained from Maltese individuals in which KLF1 p.K288X carriers display HbF levels ranging between 1.3 and 12.3% of total Hb. Using a combination of gene expression analysis, chromatin accessibility assays and promoter activity tests we find that variation in expression of the wildtype KLF1 allele may explain a significant part of the variability in HbF levels observed in KLF1 haploinsufficiency. Our results have general bearing on the variable penetrance of haploinsufficiency phenotypes and on conflicting interpretations of pathogenicity of variants in other transcriptional regulators such as EP300, GATA2 and RUNX1.
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Abdelnour SA, Xie L, Hassanin AA, Zuo E, Lu Y. The Potential of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing as a Treatment Strategy for Inherited Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:699597. [PMID: 34977000 PMCID: PMC8715006 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.699597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a promising innovative technology for genomic editing that offers scientists the chance to edit DNA structures and change gene function. It has several possible uses consisting of editing inherited deficiencies, treating, and reducing the spread of disorders. Recently, reports have demonstrated the creation of synthetic RNA molecules and supplying them alongside Cas9 into genome of eukaryotes, since distinct specific regions of the genome can be manipulated and targeted. The therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas9 technology is great, especially in gene therapy, in which a patient-specific mutation is genetically edited, or in the treating of human disorders that are untreatable with traditional treatments. This review focused on numerous, in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo uses of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology in human inherited diseases, discovering the capability of this versatile in medicine and examining some of the main limitations for its upcoming use in patients. In addition to introducing a brief impression of the biology of the CRISPR/Cas9 scheme and its mechanisms, we presented the utmost recent progress in the uses of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in editing and treating of human genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameh A Abdelnour
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Long Xie
- Center for Animal Genomics, Agricultural Genome Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Abdallah A Hassanin
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Erwei Zuo
- Center for Animal Genomics, Agricultural Genome Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yangqing Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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Barbarani G, Łabedz A, Ronchi AE. β-Hemoglobinopathies: The Test Bench for Genome Editing-Based Therapeutic Strategies. Front Genome Ed 2021; 2:571239. [PMID: 34713219 PMCID: PMC8525389 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2020.571239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemoglobin is a tetrameric protein composed of two α and two β chains, each containing a heme group that reversibly binds oxygen. The composition of hemoglobin changes during development in order to fulfill the need of the growing organism, stably maintaining a balanced production of α-like and β-like chains in a 1:1 ratio. Adult hemoglobin (HbA) is composed of two α and two β subunits (α2β2 tetramer), whereas fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is composed of two γ and two α subunits (α2γ2 tetramer). Qualitative or quantitative defects in β-globin production cause two of the most common monogenic-inherited disorders: β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. The high frequency of these diseases and the relative accessibility of hematopoietic stem cells make them an ideal candidate for therapeutic interventions based on genome editing. These strategies move in two directions: the correction of the disease-causing mutation and the reactivation of the expression of HbF in adult cells, in the attempt to recreate the effect of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) natural mutations, which mitigate the severity of β-hemoglobinopathies. Both lines of research rely on the knowledge gained so far on the regulatory mechanisms controlling the differential expression of globin genes during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Barbarani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Agata Łabedz
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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50
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De Simone G, Quattrocchi A, Mancini B, di Masi A, Nervi C, Ascenzi P. Thalassemias: From gene to therapy. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 84:101028. [PMID: 34649720 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.101028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Thalassemias (α, β, γ, δ, δβ, and εγδβ) are the most common genetic disorders worldwide and constitute a heterogeneous group of hereditary diseases characterized by the deficient synthesis of one or more hemoglobin (Hb) chain(s). This leads to the accumulation of unstable non-thalassemic Hb chains, which precipitate and cause intramedullary destruction of erythroid precursors and premature lysis of red blood cells (RBC) in the peripheral blood. Non-thalassemic Hbs display high oxygen affinity and no cooperativity. Thalassemias result from many different genetic and molecular defects leading to either severe or clinically silent hematologic phenotypes. Thalassemias α and β are particularly diffused in the regions spanning from the Mediterranean basin through the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Burma, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and the Pacific Islands, whereas δβ-thalassemia is prevalent in some Mediterranean regions including Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Although in the world thalassemia and malaria areas overlap apparently, the RBC protection against malaria parasites is openly debated. Here, we provide an overview of the historical, geographic, genetic, structural, and molecular pathophysiological aspects of thalassemias. Moreover, attention has been paid to molecular and epigenetic pathways regulating globin gene expression and globin switching. Challenges of conventional standard treatments, including RBC transfusions and iron chelation therapy, splenectomy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from normal donors are reported. Finally, the progress made by rapidly evolving fields of gene therapy and gene editing strategies, already in pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, and future challenges as novel curative treatments for thalassemia are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna De Simone
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, Italy
| | - Alberto Quattrocchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie Medico-Chirurgiche, Facoltà di Farmacia e Medicina, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Corso della Repubblica, 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mancini
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessandra di Masi
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, Italy
| | - Clara Nervi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie Medico-Chirurgiche, Facoltà di Farmacia e Medicina, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Corso della Repubblica, 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
| | - Paolo Ascenzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, Italy; Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Via della Lungara 10, 00165, Roma, Italy.
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