Correction of sickle cell disease in adult mice by interference with fetal hemoglobin silencing.

ABSTRACT: Persistence of human fetal hemoglobin (HbF, ?(2)?(2)) in adults lessens the severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) and the ?-thalassemias. Here, we show that the repressor BCL11A is required in vivo for silencing of ?-globin expression in adult animals, yet dispensable for red cell production. BCL11A serves as a barrier to HbF reactivation by known HbF inducing agents. In a proof-of-principle test of BCL11A as a potential therapeutic target, we demonstrate that inactivation of BCL11A in SCD transgenic mice corrects the hematologic and pathologic defects associated with SCD through high-level pancellular HbF induction. Thus, interference with HbF silencing by manipulation of a single target protein is sufficient to reverse SCD.

SUBMITTER: Xu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3746545 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature