GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS OF THE BRAZILIAN TYPE OF HEREDITARY PERSISTENCE OF FETAL HEMOGLOBIN: IDENTIFICATION OF GENES THAT COULD BE RELATED TO gamma-GLOBIN ACTIVATION

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Increased gamma-globin production and consequent fetal hemoglobin (Hb F, alpha 2 gamma 2) formation is an important modulator of the clinical and hematological features of hemolytic anemias, such as sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia (beta-thal). Hb F genes are genetically regulated, but despite numerous studies, the molecular basis of hemoglobin (Hb) switching is not completely understood. Hereditary persistence of fetal Hb (HPFH) is a consequence of impaired switching in adult life, which results in the continued expression of the gamma-globin gene. This study was undertaken to identify genes that could be involved in Hb switching and/or maintenance of elevated Hb F levels. Two libraries were constructed using reticulocytes from normal donors and from Brazilian HPFH subjects. Results suggest that the maintenance of Hb F levels could be associated with some gene/protein expression modifications, such as low expression of KLF1, a transcription factor known to contribute to the regulation and modulation of Hb switching, decreased expression of MIER1, known for the recruitment of chromatin remodeling enzymes, and decreased expression of HOOK3. These data suggest new genes that may play a role in globin gene regulation, gamma-globin gene expression and augmentation of Hb F levels, and may represent newly-defined cellular pathways for the control of Hb switching in erythroid cells.376516535Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)INCT-SangueFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [07/55906-3, 02/13801-7