Human KU812 Erythroleukemia Cells: A Model for Competitive γ-Globin Induction by Fetal Hemoglobin Inducing Drugs.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2323-2323
Author(s):  
Tzu-Fang Lou ◽  
Shuguang Ma ◽  
Ashley Williams ◽  
Betty S. Pace
Keyword(s):  
Cell Viability ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Drug Concentrations ◽  
Ku812 Cells ◽  
Erythroid Maturation

Abstract The control of human hemoglobin gene switching from fetal γ-globin to adult β-globin is important in erythroid maturation and treatment approaches for sickle cell disease. Drugs that reverse the γ to β-globin ratio (γ/β) have been used effectively in clinical settings. Interaction between globin genes and the locus control region is a widely accepted mechanism for competitive γ-gene silencing. Studies in K562 cells are limited and often not correlated with in vivo response in part due to a lack of β-globin expression. Therefore, we tested a KU812 erythroleukemia cell line containing active γ- and β-globin genes, as an in vitro model for screening HbF inducers. Cell viability was monitored by trypan blue exclusion and globin mRNA measured in K562 cells (γ-globin) and KU812 cells (γ and β globin) by quantitative-PCR (q-PCR). Treatments with the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors: sodium butyrate (NaB, 2mM), trichostatin A (TSA, 0.2–0.5μM), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA, 2.5–5μM) or STI571 (0.5μM) were completed. In addition, hydroxyurea (HU, 100μM) was tested as an HbF inducer control. Results: KU812 cells grown in suspension in IMDM and 10% fetal bovine serum showed viability and proliferative capacity similar to K562 cells. Drug concentrations for SAHA and TSA were decreased to attain acceptable cell viability for 48hr inductions. Controls studies in K562 cells treated with NaB and TSA showed 60–80% viability and 3.2-fold increased γ-globin expression normalized by GAPD (Gγ/GAPD, See Table). For the new agents SAHA (0–5μM) and STI571 (0–2μM) dose response studies showed 62% and 66% viability in K562 cells at 50μM, and a concomitant increase in γ/GAPD mRNA from 1.7 to 40-fold respectively. For KU812 cells at steady-state we observed 40-fold higher γ vs. β globin mRNA. Inductions with NaB, TSA and SAHA produced increased γ/β ratios up to 4.5-fold along with β-gene repression; a scenario desirable in sickle cell patients. Although STI571 induced γ-globin 8-fold this effect was countered by 14-fold β-globin induction to produce a net reversal of the γ/β ratio (0.58). Control studies with HU showed on average an 1.4-fold increase in γ/β globin by 48 hrs suggesting that modest changes in this competitive ratio is sufficient to achieve significant clinical benefits. These data support KU812 cells as a good model for testing competitive γ-globin activation by drug inducers, which could not be ascertained in K562 cells. We plan to correlate: γ/β ratios, HbF protein (by ELISA; Bethyl Lab. INC., Montgomery, TX, and 3) histone H3 and H4 acetylation levels (by western blot) in K562 and KU812 cells. Preliminary ELISA data showed 2.4 to 6.4-fold increase in HbF protein by NaB and SAHA respectively in K562 cells. This data combined with the favorable γ/β globin ratio observed with SAHA suggests this agent might be an efficacious HbF inducer in vivo. Summary: The γ/β globin mRNA ratio was determined in KU812 cells to establish a better measure of drug-mediated HbF induction in vivo. We will screen novel agents for therapeutic potential. KU812 cells might also serve as a good model to study the elusive mechanisms involved in the γ to β globin switch during erythroid maturation. K562 KU812 1TSA 0.5μM; 2TSA 0.2μM; 3SAHA 5μM;†SAHA 2.5μM;* p<0.05 HbF Inducer Drug conc. γ/GAPD Fold Inc. γ/β Fold Inc. None 0 1.0 1.0 NaB 2mM 3.2* 4.51* TSA 0.2–0.5 μM 2.11* 1.612 SAHA 2.5–5 μM 1.73 3.75†* STI571 M μ 0.5 40.0* 0.58* HU μ 100M 1.3* 1.35*

The Role of Nitric Oxide in γ-Globin Induction by Hydroxyurea.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3794-3794
Author(s):  
Tzu-Fang Lou ◽  
Ashley Williams ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Betty S. Pace
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Fetal Hemoglobin ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Heme Iron ◽  
Guanosine Monophosphate ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
No Donor

Abstract Hydroxyurea (HU) has been shown to induce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis through activation of the soluble guanosine cyclase/cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway. The release of NO from HU by heme iron is thought to be involved in this mechanism of HbF induction. Studies completed in sickle cell patients confirmed increased serum NO levels after oral HU therapy but NO generation in red blood cells and the effect on γ-gene transcription have not been extensively investigated. Therefore, we performed studies to quantify NO generated by HU in K562 cells and normal erythroid progenitors as a mechanism for γ-globin activation. NO levels were measured after drug treatments using the Nitric Oxide Assay Kit (Calbiochem) and γ-globin mRNA was measured using quantitative PCR. HU (100μM) increased NO 1.4 to 1.8-fold at 24–72 hrs in K562 cells compared to a 2.0 to 2.5-fold increase in NO produced by the known NO donor, deta-nonoate (DE; 400μM). NO levels were also measured in erythroid progenitors grown in liquid cultures; a 1.6-fold increase in NO was produced by 30μM HU after 48 hrs with comparable increases produced by 200μM DE. To understand the effects of HU on normal NO synthesis from L-arginine through the action of NO synthase (NOS), we performed studies with the NOS inhibitor, NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Interestingly, HU increased NO levels 2.5-fold at 24 hrs when combined L-NMMA compared a 1.4-fold increase produced by HU alone; this pattern persisted up to 72 hrs. Parallel with these findings γ-globin activation by HU was augmented approximately 25% by L-NMMA; DE combined with L-NMMA did not produce the same effect. These data suggest a novel mechanism for NOS regulation by HU compared to DE. Subsequent studies were completed to determine if HbF synthesis could be augmented by combining NO donors since they have different mechanisms of action. HbF levels in K562 cells were measured by ELISA (Bethyl Laboratories) and normalized by total hemoglobin and protein. Treatment with HU or DE increased HbF 3.6-fold and 4.6-fold respectively; when HU was combined with DE an additive 7.6-fold increase in HbF was produced. These data confirm that HU treatment lead to NO generation in K562 cells and normal erythroid progenitors which plays a role in its mechanism of γ-globin activation. HU combined with DE had an additive effect on HbF synthesis. These findings are relevant to current research efforts to develop novel HbF inducers for therapy in sickle cell patients.

scholarly journals Engineering, Generation and Preliminary Characterization of a Humanized Porcine Sickle Cell Disease Animal Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias M. Franks ◽  
Sharie J. Haugabook ◽  
Elizabeth A. Ottinger ◽  
Meghan S. Vermillion ◽  
Kevin M. Pawlik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Small Vessels

AbstractMouse models of sickle cell disease (SCD) that faithfully switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin (Hb) have been important research tools that accelerated advancement towards treatments and cures for SCD. Red blood cells (RBCs) in these animals sickled in vivo, occluded small vessels in many organs and resulted in severe anemia like in human patients. SCD mouse models have been valuable in advancing clinical translation of some therapeutics and providing a better understanding of the pathophysiology of SCD. However, mouse models vary greatly from humans in their anatomy and physiology and therefore have limited application for certain translational efforts to transition from the bench to bedside. These differences create the need for a higher order animal model to continue the advancement of efforts in not only understanding relevant underlying pathophysiology, but also the translational aspects necessary for the development of better therapeutics to treat or cure SCD. Here we describe the development of a humanized porcine sickle cell model that like the SCD mice, expresses human ɑ-, β− and γ-globin genes under the control of the respective endogenous porcine locus control regions (LCR). We also describe our initial characterization of the SCD pigs and plans to make this model available to the broader research community.

scholarly journals AUF-1 and YB-1 are critical determinants of β-globin mRNA expression in erythroid cells

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 1045-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan van Zalen ◽  
Grace R. Jeschke ◽  
Elizabeth O. Hexner ◽  
J. Eric Russell
Keyword(s):  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Erythroid Cells ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Affinity Enrichment

Abstract The normal accumulation of β-globin protein in terminally differentiating erythroid cells is critically dependent on the high stability of its encoding mRNA. The molecular basis for this property, though, is incompletely understood. Factors that regulate β-globin mRNA within the nucleus of early erythroid progenitors are unlikely to account for the constitutively high half-life of β-globin mRNA in the cytoplasm of their anucleate erythroid progeny. We conducted in vitro protein-RNA binding analyses that identified a cytoplasm-restricted β-globin messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex in both cultured K562 cells and erythroid-differentiated human CD34+ cells. This novel mRNP targets a specific guanine-rich pentanucleotide in a region of the β-globin 3′untranslated region that has recently been implicated as a determinant of β-globin mRNA stability. Subsequent affinity-enrichment analyses identified AUF-1 and YB-1, 2 cytoplasmic proteins with well-established roles in RNA biology, as trans-acting components of the mRNP. Factor-depletion studies conducted in vivo demonstrated the importance of the mRNP to normal steady-state levels of β-globin mRNA in erythroid precursors. These data define a previously unrecognized mechanism for the posttranscriptional regulation of β-globin mRNA during normal erythropoiesis, providing new therapeutic targets for disorders of β-globin gene expression.

scholarly journals Loading of DNA-Binding Factors to an Erythroid Enhancer

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1993-2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shau-Ching Wen ◽  
Karim Roder ◽  
Kuang-Yu Hu ◽  
Irene Rombel ◽  
Narender R. Gavva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Element ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Erythroid Cells ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Factor Binding ◽  
Globin Promoter

ABSTRACT The HS-40 enhancer is the major cis-acting regulatory element responsible for the developmental stage- and erythroid lineage-specific expression of the human α-like globin genes, the embryonic ζ and the adult α2/α/1. A model has been proposed in which competitive factor binding at one of the HS-40 motifs, 3′-NA, modulates the capability of HS-40 to activate the embryonic ζ-globin promoter. Furthermore, this modulation was thought to be mediated through configurational changes of the HS-40 enhanceosome during development. In this study, we have further investigated the molecular basis of this model. First, human erythroid K562 cells stably integrated with various HS-40 mutants cis linked to a human α-globin promoter-growth hormone hybrid gene were analyzed by genomic footprinting and expression analysis. By the assay, we demonstrate that factors bound at different motifs of HS-40 indeed act in concert to build a fully functional enhanceosome. Thus, modification of factor binding at a single motif could drastically change the configuration and function of the HS-40 enhanceosome. Second, a specific 1-bp, GC→TA mutation in the 3′-NA motif of HS-40, 3′-NA(II), has been shown previously to cause significant derepression of the embryonic ζ-globin promoter activity in erythroid cells. This derepression was hypothesized to be regulated through competitive binding of different nuclear factors, in particular AP1 and NF-E2, to the 3′-NA motif. By gel mobility shift and transient cotransfection assays, we now show that 3′-NA(II) mutation completely abolishes the binding of small MafK homodimer. Surprisingly, NF-E2 as well as AP1 can still bind to the 3′-NA(II) sequence. The association constants of both NF-E2 and AP1 are similar to their interactions with the wild-type 3′-NA motif. However, the 3′-NA(II) mutation causes an approximately twofold reduction of the binding affinity of NF-E2 factor to the 3′-NA motif. This reduction of affinity could be accounted for by a twofold-higher rate of dissociation of the NF-E2–3′-NA(II) complex. Finally, we show by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments that only binding of NF-E2, not AP1, could be detected in vivo in K562 cells around the HS-40 region. These data exclude a role for AP1 in the developmental regulation of the human α-globin locus via the 3′-NA motif of HS-40 in embryonic/fetal erythroid cells. Furthermore, extrapolation of the in vitro binding studies suggests that factors other than NF-E2, such as the small Maf homodimers, are likely involved in the regulation of the HS-40 function in vivo.

Design and Validation of Genes Encoding Hyperstable β-Globin mRNAs.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4059-4059
Author(s):  
Osheiza Abdulmalik ◽  
J. Eric Russell
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Mrna Stability ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
The Stability

Abstract 4059 Poster Board III-994 Transgenic approaches to β thalassemia and sickle cell disease require viral vectors that express high levels of therapeutic β-like globin proteins. We recently proposed that the overall expression of these transgenes would likely be improved by structural modifications that prolong the cytoplasmic half-lives of their encoded mRNAs. Relevant experiments from our laboratory have previously linked the constitutively high stability of β-globin mRNA to a region of its 3'UTR that appears to interact with at least two distinct cytoplasmic mRNA-stabilizing factors, and is predicted to form an imperfect stem-loop (SL) structure. Based upon these findings, we conducted enzymatic secondary-structure mapping studies of the β-globin 3'UTR, unequivocally validating the existence of the predicted functional stem-loop element. We subsequently reasoned that the constitutive half-life of β-globin mRNA might be prolonged by the insertion of multiple SL motifs into its 3'UTR, resulting in increased levels of the mRNA–and its encoded β-globin product–in terminally differentiating erythroid cells. To test this hypothesis, we constructed full-length β-globin genes containing either wild-type 3'UTRs, or variant 3'UTRs that had been modified to contain either two or three tandem SL motifs. Each gene was identically linked to a tetracycline-suppressible promoter, permitting pulse-chase mRNA stability analyses to be conducted in vivo in intact cultured cells. Erythroid-phenotype K562 cells were transiently transfected with SL-variant and control wild-type β-globin genes, exposed to tetracycline, and levels of β-globin mRNA determined by qRT-PCR at defined intervals using tet-indifferent β-actin mRNA as internal control. Relative to wild-type β-globin mRNA, SL-duplicate β-globin mRNAs displayed a position-dependent two-fold increase in cytoplasmic half-life; SL-triplicate β-globin mRNAs did not exhibit any additional stability. These experiments confirm the existence of a defined SL structure within the β-globin 3'UTR, and demonstrate that duplication of this motif can substantially increase the stability of β-globin mRNA. We subsequently designed a series of experiments to elucidate post-transcriptional processes involved in mRNA hyperstability. These studies required the construction of HeLa cells that stably express either wild-type β-globin mRNA (11 subclones) or SL-duplicate β-globin mRNAs (10 subclones). Preliminary analyses indicate an approximate 1.5-fold increase in the median steady-state expression of SL-duplicate genes, consistent with a prolongation in the half-life of its encoded mRNA. While formal mRNA stability studies are not yet complete, early data appear to replicate results from experiments conducted in transiently transfected cells. We have also initiated structural studies to link differences in the stability of SL-variant β-globin mRNA to alterations in its poly(A) tail. Using an RNase H-based strategy, we identified a previously unknown poly(A)-site heterogeneity–of undetermined significance–affecting both wild-type and SL-duplicate β-globin mRNAs. Finally, we recently isolated fifty-four K562 subclones expressing SL-duplicate or control β-globin mRNAs; parallel analyses of these cells will permit the cell-specificity of β-globin SL-directed mRNA stabilization to be investigated in detail. Results from each of these studies will be immediately applicable to the design of high-efficiency therapeutic transgenes for β thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Auf-1 and YB-1 Independently Regulate β-Globin mRNA Stability Through Interaction with Poly(A) Binding Protein

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1020-1020
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan van Zalen ◽  
Alyssa A Lombardi ◽  
Grace R Jeschke ◽  
Elizabeth O Hexner ◽  
J. Eric Russell
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Stability ◽  
Half Life ◽  
High Stability ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Knock Down

Abstract Abstract 1020 The normal expression of Hb A in humans requires the high-level stability of α - and β-globin mRNAs in both transcriptionally active and transcriptionally silenced erythroid progenitors. In contrast to α -globin–whose stability is known to be enhanced by an mRNA-protein (mRNP) complex that assembles on a specific pyrimidine-rich track within its 3'UTR–the structure(s) and mechanism(s) that underlie the high stability of human β-globin mRNA remain poorly defined. We recently identified two RNA-binding proteins, AUF-1 and YB-1, that regulate levels of β-globin mRNA in erythroid progenitors by assembling a cytoplasm-restricted mRNP 'β-complex' on its 3'UTR. The function of the β-complex was predicted by in vitro analyses that mapped its binding to a cis-acting determinant of β-globin mRNA stability, and by in vivo siRNA studies demonstrating that simultaneous knockdown of AUF-1 and YB-1 coordinately ablated the β-complex and coordinately reduced the accumulation of β-globin mRNA in K562 cells. The biological importance of the β-complex was subsequently confirmed in human hematopoietic stem cells, where shRNA-mediated knock-down of AUF-1 or YB-1 effected lower levels of β-globin mRNA in cells induced to the erythroid lineage, again implicating their participation in post-transcriptional mechanism(s) regulating the stability of β-globin mRNA. To unambiguously link β-complex activity to β-globin mRNA half-life, we conducted formal in vivo mRNA stability analyses in K562 cells using a β-globin mRNA-specific tetracycline-conditional transcriptional chase strategy. A derivative β-globin mRNA carrying a 5-nt substitution that totally disrupts β-complex assembly (βMut mRNA) displayed a lower half-life than wild-type β-globin mRNA (βWT mRNA), confirming the participation of the β-complex in post-transcriptional regulatory processes. Parallel poly(A) tail length analyses indicated a possible mechanism for this activity, revealing that the βMut mRNA had a shortened steady-state poly(A) tail that truncated faster than the poly(A) tail on βWT mRNA, suggesting a functional interaction between the β-complex and poly(A) tail-associated factors. This observation is fully consistent with the known importance of deadenylation to processes regulating the decay of heterologous mRNAs in several other experimental systems. Subsequent studies supported our model for β-complex/poly(A) tail interaction: electrophoretic gel mobility-shift analyses demonstrated that the β-complex readily assembles on polyadenylated β-globin 3'UTRs but not on corresponding deadenylated 3'UTRs, while RNA affinity capture experiments using K562 cytoplasmic extracts demonstrated that a polyadenylated βWT 3'UTR retains poly(A) binding protein (PABP), while a similar β-complex-deficient βMut 3'UTR fails to bind PABP. Ongoing co-immunoprecipation studies are expected to determine whether the β-complex and PABP are tethered by an interval of mRNA or, alternately, interact directly via a protein-protein interaction. Based upon our previous structural and functional analyses indicating that AUF-1 and YB-1 act redundantly to regulate the cytoplasmic level of β-globin mRNA, we are currently investigating the hypothesis that these two factors also display redundant interactions with the poly(A) tail and its trans-acting binding factors. Our initial RNA affinity analyses confirm this expectation, demonstrating that K562 extracts depleted of either AUF-1 or YB-1 (using an shRNA-knock-down strategy) both maintained the ability to assemble a β-complex as well as facilitate PABP binding to a the polyadenylated βWT 3'UTR. We are presently testing AUF-1 and YB-1 for corresponding functional redundancy (i.e., their abilities to independently induce βWT mRNA stability) using in vivo mRNA tethering experiments in which AUF-1 or YB-1 can be structurally modified to promote their independent interaction with the β-complex binding site. Altogether, these experiments demonstrate that the β-complex, through its component mRNA-binding factors AUF-1 and YB-1, effects the high stability of β-globin mRNA by interacting with PABP. A detailed structural and mechanistic description of this process will be invaluable to the design of novel therapeutics for patients with congenital disorders of β-globin gene expression. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Targeting KLF1 for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease Using Antisense Oligonucleotides

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 4038-4038
Author(s):  
Raechel Peralta ◽  
Audrey Low ◽  
Sheri Booten ◽  
Dewang Zhou ◽  
Aneeza Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Subcutaneous Administration ◽  
Fetal Hemoglobin ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Saline Control ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Globin Reduction

Abstract Sickle cell anemia (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder in which red blood cells (RBC) become sickle-shaped and block blood vessels, leading to painful vaso-occlusive episodes. Sickling occurs because of a point-mutation in the β-globin gene of hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) is the main oxygen transport protein in the fetus during the last months of embryonic development and the first few months of life after birth. HbF has a slightly greater oxygen binding affinity than adult hemoglobin (HbA, α2β2) and inhibits sickling by interfering with the polymerization of hemoglobin S. Higher HbF levels in SCD correlate with better survival and because HbF production can be reactivated pharmacologically in adults, it can be used for the treatment of SCD. Erythroid Kruppel-like factor (KLF1) is an erythroid-specific transcription factor that regulates β-globin expression through direct interaction with its promoter and indirectly regulates γ-globin expression through the regulation of BCL11A. By reducing the expression of KLF1, we can promote production of HbF through the upregulation of γ-globin expression. Since rodents don’t express γ-globin, we have employed both human and engineered mouse cell lines to demonstrate upregulation of γ-globin mRNA expression in vitro. We used MEL-h-b-BAC line#7 cells, a murine erythroleukemic cell line harboring the entire human beta globin locus and expressing mouse KLF1, and treated with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting mouse KLF1. After 7 days of free uptake with the ASOs, we observed a 6-fold increase of human γ-globin mRNA expression after achieving 65% mRNA reduction of mouse KLF1 compared to the untreated control. We were also able to demonstrate significant upregulation of human γ-globin protein expression in these cells by western blot. We have shown similar results in a human erythroleukemia cell line, K562, using ASOs targeting human KLF1. K562 cells were electroporated with the KLF1 ASOs and 4 days later, we observed a 5-fold increase of human γ-globin mRNA expression after achieving 40% mRNA reduction of human KLF1 compared to the untreated control. These data indicate that targeting mouse or human KLF1 with ASO treatment can cause an increase in human γ-globin expression in vitrothat is necessary for the upregulation of fetal hemoglobin. We have also shown that we are able to target the bone marrow in both mice and rats through subcutaneous administration of our KLF1 ASOs. In wild type mice, at a dose of 100 mpk/wk for 4 weeks, we observed KLF1 target reduction of 88% and a β-globin reduction of 58% compared to the saline control in whole bone marrow. In Sprague-Dawley rats, at a dose of 50 mpk/wk for 4 weeks, we observed KLF1 target reduction of 83% and a β-globin reduction of 77% compared to the saline control in whole bone marrow. Therefore, we are able to achieve significant β-globin mRNA reduction in the bone marrow in both mice and rats after subcutaneous administration of KLF ASOs. These data indicate that reducing KLF1 with antisense oligonucleotides is a viable option for the treatment of sickle cell anemia. Disclosures Peralta: Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Low:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Booten:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Zhou:Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham: Employment. Kim:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Freier:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Guo:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Murray:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Townes:University of Alabama at Birmingham: Employment. Hung:Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment.

Role of HDAC9 in γ-Globin Gene Regulation.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4074-4074
Author(s):  
Shalini A Muralidhar ◽  
Betty Pace
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Histone Deacetylase ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Data Support ◽  
Dose Dependent

Abstract Abstract 4074 Poster Board III-1009 Strategies to induce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis for the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies will likely involve chromatin modification in the presence of histone deacetylase (HDAC)/protein complexes to promote γ-globin gene activation. The role of various HDACs in globin transcription is not very well understood therefore, the objective of our study was to identify HDACs involved in γ-gene regulation. Screening studies were performed in K562 erythroleukemia cells to determine transcription levels for HDAC genes in the absence or presence of HbF induction. Treatment with butyrate (2mM), trichostatin A (0.5μM) and the non-HDAC inhibitor control hemin (50μM) significantly reduced mRNA levels of HDAC9 and its splice variant HDRP (histone deacetylase related protein) lending indirect evidence for their involvement in drug-mediated γ-globin regulation. Subsequent studies were performed to delineate whether HDAC9 can directly modulate γ-globin gene transcription since a role for HDAC9 in hematopoiesis has been previously demonstrated. Furthermore, consensus binding sites for GATA-1 are present in the HDAC9 gene proximal promoter. Initially, we performed siRNA knockdown using Oligofectamine (Invitrogen) in K562 cells and measured γ-globin levels by real time quantitative PCR analysis. Treatment with siHDAC9 (Dharmacon) produced dose-dependent γ-globin gene silencing over an 80-320nM range; control siRNA molecules had no effect. When HDAC9 was over-expressed in K562 cells using pTarT-HDAC9 at 10-50μg concentrations, a dose dependent 2.5-fold increase in γ-globin mRNA (p<0.05) was produced. These data support a positive regulatory role for HDAC9 in γ-gene regulation. To confirm the physiological relevance of HDAC9, similar studies were performed in human primary erythroid progenitors using a two-phase liquid culture system. The 320nM siHDAC9 concentration produced 48% and 60% decrease in γ-globin mRNA at day 11 (early progenitors) and day 28 (late progenitors) respectively. Enforced HDAC9 expression increased γ-globin by 2.5-fold (p<0.05) at both days. ELISA was performed to quantify HbF protein and cytospin preps were made to visualized hemoglobin by fluorescent staining with anti-γ-FITC antibody. HDAC9 enforced expression for 72 hrs produced a 7-fold increase in HbF and γ-FITC positive cells increased >50%. Collectively these data support a positive role for HDAC9 in γ-globin regulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays will be completed to elucidate the contribution of HDAC9 in maintaining an active chromatin domain in the γ-globin promoter. We will also define interactions of GATA-1 in the HDAC9 gene to coordinate expression during erythroid maturation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Two Novel Trans-Acting Factors Dictate the High Cytoplasmic Stability of β-Globin mRNA

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 644-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan van Zalen ◽  
J. Eric Russell
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Target Sequence ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Erythroid Progenitor ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Mrna Binding

Abstract Abstract 644 The efficient accumulation of hemoglobin in mature erythrocytes is critically dependent upon the high stabilities of mRNAs encoding human α- and β-globin proteins. These mRNAs are likely to be stabilized by interactions between one or more trans-acting regulatory factors that target defined cis-acting elements within their 3′UTRs. Several ubiquitous factors that are known to bind to the β-globin 3′UTR (including αCP, PTBP1, and nucleolin) are largely restricted to the nucleus and therefore unlikely to contribute to regulatory processes affecting β-globin mRNA in the cytoplasm. Consequently, we conducted a series of experiments that identify and characterize mRNA-binding factors that dictate the properties of β-globin mRNA in the cytoplasm of erythroid progenitor cells. Using electrophoretic gel mobility shift analyses (EMSA), we defined a characteristic mRNP complex that assembles on the β-globin 3′UTR in cytoplasmic extract–but not nuclear extract–prepared from erythroid K562 cells. This mRNP ‘β-complex’ appears to be erythroid-specific, as it fails to assemble in extracts prepared from non-erythroid HeLa or HEK cells. The 3′UTR binding site for the β-complex was identified using an EMSA-competition approach; remarkably, the target sequence is encompassed within a 12-nt region previously identified as a functional determinant of β-globin mRNA stability in in vivo analyses. Additional experiments fine-mapped the β-complex binding site to a GGGGG pentanucleotide motif within the mRNA-stabilizing region. The functional importance of the pentanucleotide was illustrated by mRNA decay experiments in intact erythroid K562 cells showing that full-length β-globin mRNAs are destabilized by introduction of the same GGGGG->CCGGG mutation that ablates β-complex assembly in EMSA analyses. To identify trans-factors that comprise the β-complex, we performed affinity chromatography using ssDNA probes corresponding to the β-complex binding motif. The native 3′UTR probe retained 42- and 47-kDa proteins, while a probe carrying the CCGGG mutation failed to bind either factor. Subsequent LC/MS/MS analyses identified the two proteins as YB-1 and AUF-1. The identities of these two mRNA-binding factors, which have previously been implicated in the post-transcriptional regulation of heterologous mRNAs, were subsequently confirmed by immunoblot of the protein-DNA complexes. Subsequent analyses suggested a functional role for both factors: EMSA supershift experiments confirmed that YB-1 is a component of the β-complex, and RNA immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrated that both YB-1 and AUF-1 specifically bind to β-globin mRNA in vivo in intact erythroid K562 cells. Collectively, these data identify two novel trans-acting factors that bind to cytoplasmic β-globin mRNA in an erythroid-specific fashion, at a site that dictates its stability in intact cells. We are currently engaged in siRNA knock-down experiments to validate experiments that suggest the importance of these trans-acting factors to the constitutive cytoplasmic stability of β-globin mRNA, as well as structural analyses intended to define RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions that are critical to normal functioning of the β-complex. The results of these experiments have obvious implications for the design of novel therapies for patients with congenital disorders of β-globin gene expression, including sickle cell disease and β thalassemia. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Induction of Fetal Hemoglobin by Inactivation of HDAC1 or HDAC2 without Altering Cellular Proliferation

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 354-354
Author(s):  
Erica B. Esrick ◽  
Jian Xu ◽  
Katherine Lin ◽  
Marie Ellen McConkey ◽  
Alyse Frisbee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hdac Inhibitor ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Hdac Inhibitors ◽  
Fetal Hemoglobin ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Globin Mrna ◽  
Gamma Globin ◽  
Hydroxyurea Treatment

Abstract Abstract 354 Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are effective inducers of fetal hemoglobin, and prior studies have shown that selective inactivation of HDAC1 or HDAC2 is sufficient to induce fetal hemoglobin in vitro. In our current work, we demonstrate that HDAC1 and HDAC2 are attractive targets for clinical translation for two reasons: 1) Selective inhibition will decrease off-target effects that currently limit the use of hydroxyurea and pan-HDAC inhibitors, and 2) HDAC inhibitors induce fetal hemoglobin in various preclinical models, and they can be combined with hydroxyurea to achieve further fetal hemoglobin induction. To investigate off-target effects, we selectively inactivated HDAC1, HDAC2 or HDAC3 in human erythroid progenitor cells, and examined the effect of each knockdown on cellular cytotoxicity and cell cycle progression. Although knockdown of HDAC3 negatively influenced growth, selective knockdown of HDAC1 or HDAC2 had no effect on expansion of erythroid progenitors. In addition, knockdown of HDAC2 does not block cell cycle progression. These data support the possibility that an HDAC1- or HDAC2-specific inhibitor may offer a therapeutic advantage by reducing side effects, while maintaining robust HbF induction. Armed with this knockdown data, we are now investigating HDAC inhibitor compounds of various selectivity in in vitro and in vivo models. To perform optimal clinical trials, and ultimately to benefit the most sickle cell disease patients, it would be ideal to combine HDAC inhibitor treatment with hydroxyurea. A combination treatment approach may ameliorate some of the limitations of hydroxyurea use, such as the unpredictable effect on fetal hemoglobin levels, and the lack of benefit in beta thalassemia patients. First, we combined HDAC2 inactivation with hydroxyurea treatment in vitro. Human bone marrow-derived CD34+ cells were infected with lentiviruses containing an shRNA targeting either HDAC2 or a luciferase control gene. The cells were then treated on day 4 of erythroid differentiation with hydroxyurea (10–20 uM dose). Compared to the untreated luciferase control samples, we observed a 7–9-fold increase in gamma-globin expression in the untreated HDAC2-knockdown samples, a 2.5-fold increase in the hydroxyurea-treated luciferase control samples, and a trend toward an additive effect on gamma-globin induction in the cells where HDAC2 knockdown was combined with hydroxyurea treatment. To investigate the effects of HDAC inhibitors in vivo, we administered compounds to BCL11A conditional knockout transgenic mice (by erythroid-selective EpoR-GFP Cre) containing the human beta-globin locus. As reported previously, BCL11A inactivation powerfully de-repressed gamma-globin expression, and administration of an HDAC inhibitor, SAHA, led to a further elevation of gamma-globin mRNA. We now demonstrate that administration of another pan-HDAC inhibitor, panobinostat (LBH589), results in an additional 1.5- to 2.5-fold increase in gamma-globin mRNA relative to pre-treatment baseline. We are currently evaluating the combination of panobinostat and hydroxyurea in these mice to confirm that the compounds have an additive effect in vivo as well as in vitro. Taken together, these experiments indicate that inhibiting HDAC1 or HDAC2 is a promising therapeutic approach to increasing fetal hemoglobin levels in patients with beta-hemoglobinopathies, both alone and in combination with hydroxyurea. Disclosures: Bradner: Acetylon: .

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