In vivo activation of the human δ-globin gene: the therapeutic potential in β-thalassemic mice
| Autor: | Maria F. Manchinu, Maria F. Marongiu, Daniela Poddie, Carla Casu, Veronica Latini, Michela Simbula, Renzo Galanello, Paolo Moi, Antonio Cao, Susanna Porcu, Maria S. Ristaldi |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Haematologica, Vol 99, Iss 1 (2014) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 0390-6078 1592-8721 |
| DOI: | 10.3324/haematol.2012.082768 |
| Popis: | β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease are widespread fatal genetic diseases. None of the existing clinical treatments provides a solution for all patients. Two main strategies for treatment are currently being investigated: (i) gene transfer of a normal β-globin gene; (ii) reactivation of the endogenous γ-globin gene. To date, neither approach has led to a satisfactory, commonly accepted standard of care. The δ-globin gene produces the δ-globin of hemoglobin A2. Although expressed at a low level, hemoglobin A2 is fully functional and could be a valid substitute of hemoglobin A in β-thalassemia, as well as an anti-sickling agent in sickle cell disease. Previous in vitro results suggested the feasibility of transcriptional activation of the human δ-globin gene promoter by inserting a Kruppel-like factor 1 binding site. We evaluated the activation of the Kruppel-like factor 1 containing δ-globin gene in vivo in transgenic mice. To evaluate the therapeutic potential we crossed the transgenic mice carrying a single copy activated δ-globin gene with a mouse model of β-thalassemia intermedia. We show that the human δ-globin gene can be activated in vivo in a stage- and tissue-specific fashion simply by the insertion of a Kruppel-like factor 1 binding site into the promoter. In addition the activated δ-globin gene gives rise to a robust increase of the hemoglobin level in β-thalassemic mice, effectively improving the thalassemia phenotype. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the therapeutic potential of the δ-globin gene for treating severe hemoglobin disorders which could lead to novel approaches, not involving gene addition or reactivation, to the cure of β-hemoglobinopathies. |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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