MiRNA expression profiles of erythroid cells following hydroxyurea treatment for sickle cell anemia
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ABSTRACT: We hypothesized that miRNA regulation may be invloved in hydroxyurea-mediated fetal hemoglobin induction. Microarray analysis was utilized as an initial screening tool to determine differential miRNA expression in CD71+ erythroid cells comparing cells from control individuals without sickle cell anemia to patients with sickle cell anemia prior to treatment with hydroxyurea and patients receiving the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of hydroxurea.
Project description:We hypothesized that miRNA regulation may be invloved in hydroxyurea-mediated fetal hemoglobin induction. Microarray analysis was utilized as an initial screening tool to determine differential miRNA expression in CD71+ erythroid cells comparing cells from control individuals without sickle cell anemia to patients with sickle cell anemia prior to treatment with hydroxyurea and patients receiving the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of hydroxurea. CD71+ cells were isolated from whole blood of control individuals (n=2), pediatric patients without hydroxyurea treatment (n=3) and pediatric patients at hydroxyurea MTD (n=3). All 8 samples were analyzed for miRNA expression.
Project description:The heterozygous inheritance of the sickle cell gene, called sickle cell trait (HbAS), was previously thought to be benign. HbAS is now associated with an increased risk for chronic kidney disease, pulmonary embolisms, and exertional rhabdomyolysis. The role of gene expression, as regulated by microRNAs, in these clinical HbAS associations has not been investigated. We explored the association between HbAS and the differential expression of circultaing (plasma) microRNAs when compared to the normal hemoglobin phenotype (HbAA). In stark contrast, the homozygous inheritance of the sickle cell gene, called sickle cell anemia (HbSS) is a severe disease that was previously associated with early mortality and severe morbidity. With appropriate care and early interventions, people with HbSS have improved life expectancy but still experience significant morbidity including cardiac, kidney, and pulmonary disease. The role of gene expression as regulated by microRNA in these clinical HbSS associations has not been investigated. We also explored whether the presence of HbSS is associated with the differential expression of circultaing (plasma) microRNAs as compared to the normal hemoglobin phenotype (HbAA).
Project description:In sickle cell disease (SCD) hemoglobin S (HbS) polymerization renders red blood cells (RBC) both fragile and rigid and accounts for anemia and vasoocclusive crises (VOC). Abnormal RBC adhesion to vascular endothelial cells (VEC), in a context of chronic inflammation, cell activation and vascular tone abnormalities, is a major event in triggering VOC. Hydroxyurea (HU) is the only drug with a proven efficiency at decreasing VOC occurrence. HU decreases HbS polymerization and RBC adhesion. We studied HU effect on the other cellular partner of adhesion, i.e.VEC. HU-induced TrHBMEC transcriptome variations were analyzed by micro-arrays both in basal and pro-inflammatory conditions after 24h and 48h of treatment. Among the endothelial HU target genes we focused on those related to adhesion and inflammation phenomena. HU had no impact on adhesion genes as a whole, still expression of VCAM-1, a key adhesion receptor, was decreased. In contrast, HU had a significant effect on the inflammation gene cluster. It stimulates pro-inflammatory genes such as IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, CCL2, CCL5 and CCL8 both at the mRNA and protein levels and also in HPMEC and HUVEC primary cells. This may suggest that HU increases inflammation in SCD patients to a threshold engaging an anti-inflammatory response. Keywords: Treated TrHBME cell line
Project description:<p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe debilitating hematological disorder associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. There are approximately 200,000 babies born with sickle cell disease each year, with the disease predominately affecting individuals in Africa. The overall global burden of the disease is tremendous, with more than 100,000 patients currently in the US and further millions worldwide. The governing bodies of the World Health Organization have recently adopted a resolution to strengthen the response to sickle disease in all affected countries and there is a definite need for high quality sickle cell disease research that has the potential to improve the treatment and prognosis of patients with this devastating disease. The clinical manifestations of SCD arise from a complex pathophysiology that includes hemolysis, acute vaso-occlusion, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic organ damage. While the individual clinical course of this disease is highly variable, many of the associated complications demonstrate some degree of heritability. Intensive research into identifying genetic modifiers that can affect the pathophysiology of SCD has been limited to date and there is an urgent need to improve of our knowledge the molecular mechanisms underlying the clinical complications of SCD. The Sickle cell CIP project is investigating complication of stroke and pharmacogenomics of hydroxyurea response in patients with sickle cell anemia. The major benefit of hydroxyurea comes from its ability to induce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and higher HbF levels are associated with reduced morbidity and mortality in SCA patients. We will perform whole exome and whole genome sequencing of SCA patients in order to identify genome variants associated with incidences of stroke and HbF response to hydroxyurea.</p>
Project description:miRNAs are reported to regulate HBG2 gene in thalassemia and sickle cell anemia patients. Hydroxyurea is know to elevate HbF levels in patients with no known mechanism. We aim to look for miRNAs which are differentially expressed in patients with and without hydroxyurea therapy.
Project description:Genetic differences in endothelial biology could underlie development of phenotypic heterogeneity amongst individuals afflicted with vascular diseases. We obtained BOEC (blood outgrowth endothelial cells) from 20 subjects with sickle cell anemia (age 4-19) shown to be either at-risk (n=11) or not-at-risk (n=9) for ischemic stroke due to, respectively, having or not having occlusive disease at the Circle of Willis (CoW). Gene expression profiling identified no significant single gene differences between the two groups, as expected. However, analysis of Biological Systems Scores, using gene sets that were pre-determined to survey each of nine biological systems, showed that only changes in inflammation signaling are characteristic of the at-risk subjects, as supported by multiple statistical approaches Experiment Overall Design: We obtained BOEC (blood outgrowth endothelial cells) from 20 subjects with sickle cell anemia (age 4-19) shown to be either at-risk (n=11) or not-at-risk (n=9) for ischemic stroke due to, respectively, having or not having occlusive disease at the Circle of Willis (CoW). To allow power calculations to be done, we performed microarray analysis on BOEC from 27 normal subjects of diverse ages. Gene expression profilings were obtained by using Affymetrix U133A chips
Project description:<p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by the presence of sickle hemoglobin (HbS) within circulating erythrocytes resulting in hemolytic anemia, vascular occlusion, and end organ damage due to alterations in the shape and deformability of the cell membrane. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, and is most commonly caused by a single nucleotide substitution in the hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) gene located on chromosome 11. Participants in this study include children with SCD treated with hydroxyurea to pharmacologically increase fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and reduce disease severity. Therefore, the primary phenotype of interest in this study is the change in HbF levels in response to hydroxyurea treatment. Genetic factors have been shown to influence inter-individual variation in drug response, and identification of novel genes and variants associated with clinical outcomes in SCD will be achieved through collaboration between Baylor College of Medicine, Augusta University, Columbia University Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The NHLBI TOPMed Program is designed to generate scientific resources to enhance understanding of fundamental biological processes that underlie heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders (HLBS). It is part of a broader Precision Medicine Initiative, which aims to provide disease treatments that are tailored to an individual's unique genes and environment.</p>
Project description:Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a severe, inherited hemoglobin disorder affecting 100,000 persons in the US and millions worldwide. Hydroxyurea, a once daily oral medication, has emerged as the primary disease-modifying therapy for SCA. The accumulated body of evidence over 30 years demonstrates that hydroxyurea is a safe and effective therapy for SCA, but hydroxyurea remains underutilized for a variety of reasons.In this review, we summarize the available evidence regarding the pharmacology, clinical, and laboratory benefits, and safety of hydroxyurea therapy for the treatment of SCA. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader a comprehensive understanding of hydroxyurea and to reinforce the fact that hydroxyurea is a safe and effective medication for the treatment of SCA.In our opinion, hydroxyurea therapy should be considered standard-of-care for SCA, representing an essential component of patient management. Early initiation and broader use of hydroxyurea will alter the natural history of SCA, so affected children can live longer and healthier lives. In addition, hydroxyurea use should be extended to low-resource settings such as sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of SCA and the need for hydroxyurea is arguably the greatest.