Importance of Sequencing HBA1, HBA2 and HBB Genes to Confirm the Diagnosis of High Oxygen Affinity Hemoglobin

High oxygen affinity hemoglobin (HOAH) is the main cause of constitutional erythrocytosis. Mutations in the genes coding the alpha and beta globin chains (HBA1, HBA2 and HBB) strengthen the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin (Hb), bringing about tissue hypoxia and a secondary erythrocytosis. The diagnosis of HOAH is based upon the identification of a mutation in HBA1, HBA2 or HBB in specialized laboratories. Phenotypic studies of Hb are also useful, but electrophoretic analysis can be normal in 1/3 of cases. The establishment of the dissociation curve of Hb can be used as another screening test, a shift to the left indicating an increased affinity for Hb. The direct measurement of venous P50 using a Hemox Analyzer is of great importance, but due to specific analytic conditions, it is only available in a few specialized laboratories. Alternatively, an estimated measurement of the P50 can be obtained in most of the blood gas analyzers on venous blood. The aim of our study was therefore to determine whether a normal venous P50 value could rule out HOAH. We sequenced the HBB, HBA1 and HBA2 genes of 75 patients with idiopathic erythrocytosis. Patients had previously undergone an exhaustive medical check-up after which the venous P50 value was defined as normal. Surprisingly, sequencing detected HOAH in three patients (Hb Olympia in two patients, and Hb St Nazaire in another). A careful retrospective examination of their medical files revealed that (i) one of the P50 samples was arterial; (ii) there was some air in another sample; and (iii) the P50 measurement was not actually done in one of the patients. Our study shows that in real life conditions, due to pre-analytical contingencies, a venous P50 value that is classified as being normal may not be sufficient to rule out a diagnosis of HOAH. Therefore, we recommend the systematic sequencing of the HBB, HBA1 and HBA2 genes in the exploration of idiopathic erythrocytosis.

Prevalence of Sickle Cell Anemic Subjects from Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India

Sickle cell disease is caused by Mutations in the HBB gene. Hemoglobin consists of four protein subunits, typically, two subunits called alpha-globin and two subunits called beta-globin. People with sickle cell anemia suffers with high morbidity and with many intercurrent infections, people of study district are with high economic burden, terminate fatality in childhood state and have the emotional and psychological trauma including the family members the exact magnitude of the problem in the study district is still obscure. The study conducted from April 2009 to April 2012 to know the prevalence of sickle cell anemia by month long survey and by visiting all PHC’S and RH of district and data collected to know the prevalence of sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease total 7763 cases were recorded in present study and age wise, gender wise and caste wise distribution recorded and the data was analyzed statistically. Keywords: Sickle, anemia, Gadchiroli, Haemoglobin, beta-globin

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Knowledge Regarding Home Care Management of Thalassemia Children among the Parents in A.V.B.R. Hospital, Wardha

Background of Study: Thalassemia is a genetic condition in which the production of globin chains is reduced or non-existent. Beta-thalassemia is caused by mutations in the beta-globin gene, which impede the formation of beta-globin chains. Based on clinical severity, beta thalassemia is categorised as follows. The most severe form of beta thalassemia is characterised by severe anaemia and the requirement for blood transfusions. Anaemia caused by beta thalassemia intermedia can be treated with medication or transfusions. Beta thalassemia minima- Also known as beta thalassemia trait, this type is typically asymptomatic. Children with beta-thalassemia major require regular blood transfusions, which can result in issues such as iron overload and the transfer of illnesses such as HIV, HCV, and HBsAg, all of which can shorten their life. Inadequate transfusions, on the other hand, result in severe anaemia as well as fatigue and debility. Objectives: To measure parents' existing knowledge of thalassemia children's home care management. To analyses the efficiency of a self-instructional module on thalassemia children's home care management expertise. To link the post-test knowledge score to the demographic factors chosen. Materials and Methods: A descriptive research design study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a self-instructional module on parental understanding of thalassemia children's home care management. The total number of samples in this study was 30. All of them were parents of thalassemia children from A.V.B.R. Hospital in Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha. The study employed a non-probability convenient sampling strategy, with the instrument being designed questionnaires on parental understanding of their children's medical conditions and knowledge of home care management of thalassemia. Based on the aims and hypothesis, the data was statistically analysed using various tests such as descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficiency of a self-instructional module on parental understanding of thalassemia children's home care management. Following the installation of the seif-instructional module, 63.33 percent of Thalassemia parents had a poor level of knowledge and 36.67 percent had an average level of knowledge prior to the exam, according to analysis. The lowest knowledge score on the pre-test was 2 and the highest knowledge score was 7. The pre-test mean percentage of knowledge score was 33.559.17, and the pre-test mean knowledge score was 5.031.37. Post-test knowledge scores were average for 23.33 percent of Thalassemia parents and excellent for 76.67 percent of Thalassemia parents. The minimum post-test knowledge score was 8 and the maximum post-test knowledge score was 14. The mean post-test knowledge score was 11.901.84, and the mean percentage of knowledge score was 79.3312.29. Conclusion: The current study's pre-test results reveal that parents of thalassemia children had insufficient information about thalassemia home care management. Following the self-instructional module, it was a modest attempt to develop understanding of thalassemia home care management. Based on their pre-test scores, 19% of subjects had low knowledge, 11% had moderate knowledge, and 0% had strong knowledge, according to the findings. However, according to post-test results, 0% of subjects had low knowledge, 7% of subjects had average knowledge, and 23% of subjects had strong knowledge. As a result, the post-test knowledge score was statistically interpreted to be greater than the pre-test knowledge score.

The Benefits Trial of PB-04 to Evaluate Safety, PK, and Preliminary Efficacy in Inducing Fetal Globin Expression in Beta Thalassemia Intermedia and Sickle Cell Disease

Increased expression of fetal globin (HBG) has been shown to reduce clinical severity of beta-globin disorders and increase survival in sickle cell disease (SCD), through improved globin chain balance in beta thalassemia and reduced HbS polymerization. Pharmacologic approaches are considered most feasible for a majority of patients. Both proportions of F-cells and quantity of hemoglobin F (HbF)/cell are important for therapeutic effects. PB-04 was identified in a high-throughput screen of US and EU-approved drugs to activate HBG gene transcription, without cytotoxicity, to induce fetal globin expression (gamma globin mRNA, F-cells, HbF/cell, HbF), and to suppress or displace 4 repressors of the fetal globin gene promoter (BCL11A, LSD-1, KLF-1, and HDAC-3) in hemoglobinopathy patients' erythroid progenitors. PB-04 enhanced HbF in progenitors from hydroxyurea (HU)-treated patients with sickle cell disease. In in vivo studies, PB-04 induced fetal globin expression >20-fold with oral dosing in anemic baboons, and by 3.5-fold in mice transgenic for 2 copies of the human β-globin gene locus. This agent has been approved and in broad use for Parkinson's Disease treatment for 5 decades in Europe and Canada, to enhance the PK of an active Parkinson's agent, solely in a combination formulation. Because of its safety with chronic dosing up to 1300 mg/day, PB-04 is therefore of interest for repurposing in the treatment of thalassemia and SCD. This Ph1b trial (NCT004432623) will evaluate safety, tolerability, PK, and preliminary efficacy (fetal globin expression) with at least 3 escalating dose cohorts in up to 24 beta thalassemia intermedia (BTI) patients and 12 patients with sickle cell disease, > 18 years, both genders, with 12 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up. Doses to be explored were selected from safe and active human equivalent doses in preclinical toxicology and efficacy studies in 2 species. Primary inclusion criteria include clinical diagnosis of BTI, including HbE beta thalassemia, with at least one beta globin gene mutation, or diagnosis of HbSS or HbSb thalassemia (after dose selection); total Hb levels 6-10 gm/dL. Exclusion criteria include red blood cell (RBC) transfusion within 2 months prior to administration of study medication, receiving regular transfusions, and hepatic or renal function > 3 x institutional ULN. Primary endpoints include occurrence, severity, and duration of adverse events by CTCAE v5.0 criteria and PK parameters. Secondary endpoints include change from baseline in assays of HbF expression, total Hb, markers of hemolysis . Exploratory endpoints include select polymorphisms associated with basal fetal globin expression and in vitro responses to the study drug. Statistical analysis will assess the rate of adverse events, PK parameters by dose, and changes in F-cells, F-reticulocytes, HbF/cell, HbF (% and total), compared to 2 averaged baseline values using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Changes will be analyzed by mixed effect models during the 12-week dosing and 4-week follow-up period. Currently 3 dose cohorts with BTI are enrolled. This study, if successful, will provide a rational basis for definitive trials of an established safe oral therapeutic, with no overlapping toxicities with other experimental or approved agents, for combined use with HU and other therapeutics which enhance red cell viability in the globin disorders. The expertise and contributions of Jim Cradock of NCATS TRND to this work before his passing are gratefully acknowledged. Disclosures Kuo: Agios: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria. Sheth: CRISPR: Consultancy; Bluebird bio: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Chiesi: Consultancy; Imara: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Dispersol: Research Funding. Al-Samkari: Moderna: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Rigel: Consultancy; Argenx: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Dova/Sobi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding. Pace: Imara Inc.: Consultancy. Kuypers: Forma Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding. Nouraie: Phoenicia BioScience Inc.: Consultancy. Perrine: Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Emmaus Medical: Consultancy.

Preclinical Development of EDIT301, an Autologous Cell Therapy Comprising AsCas12a-RNP Modified Mobilized Peripheral Blood-CD34 + Cells for the Potential Treatment of Transfusion Dependent Beta Thalassemia

Beta thalassemia is one of the most common recessive hematological disorders in the world with more than 200 mutations identified to date. These mutations reduce or completely abrogate beta globin expression. As beta globin pairs with alpha globin to form adult hemoglobin (HbA, α2β2), reduced or absent beta globin results in excessive alpha globin chains, which form toxic aggregates. These aggregates cause maturation blockade and premature death of erythroid precursors, and hemolysis of red blood cells (RBC), leading to varying degrees of anemia. Patients with the most severe form of beta thalassemia, namely beta thalassemia major, are transfusion-dependent, i.e., requiring life-long RBC transfusions accompanied by the burden of iron chelation therapy. EDIT-301 is an experimental autologous cell therapy in which CD34 + cells are genetically modified to promote gamma globin expression. EDIT-301 is currently in clinical development for sickle cell disease, and IND enabling stage for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). Gamma globin decreases the alpha to beta globin chain imbalance in beta thalassemia by pairing with the over-abundant alpha globin chains to form fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2). Gamma globin induction, and consequently HbF induction, for EDIT-301 is achieved through AsCas12a ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-mediated editing of the distal CCAAT box region of the HBG1 and HBG2 promoters, where naturally occurring hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HFPH) mutations exist. We chose this target over BCL11A based on previous preclinical data demonstrating that BCL11A editing reduces erythroid output in NBSGW mice. An engineered AsCas12a RNP edits the HBG1 and HBG2 promoter distal CCAAT box with high efficiency and specificity. We have previously shown that on-target editing of >80% was achieved in mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) CD34 + cells from normal donors with no detectable off-target editing both at research scale and at clinical manufacturing scale. Edited normal donor CD34 + cells led to long-term, polyclonal, multilineage engraftment without lineage skewing in immunocompromised mice and sustained robust HbF production in their erythroid progeny. To test whether EDIT-301 may be an efficacious therapy for TDT, mPB CD34 + cells from individuals with TDT were electroporated with the engineered AsCas12a RNP targeting the HBG1 and HBG2 promoters. AsCas12a RNP edited mPB CD34 + cells from individuals with TDT as efficiently as CD34 + cells from normal donors. Importantly, EDIT-301 has the potential to address the underlying pathophysiology of TDT, i.e., the maturation blockade and premature death of erythroid precursors. Erythroid differentiation of edited beta thalassemia CD34 + cells showed significant improvement in erythroid maturation and health. Specifically, ~70% edited erythroblasts reached late erythroblast stage compared to ~53% unedited erythroblasts; ~56% edited erythroid cells underwent terminal maturation and enucleated compared to ~28% of unedited erythroid cells; and non-viable erythroblasts decreased from ~33% to ~22% after editing. The improved erythropoiesis was accompanied by significantly increased total hemoglobin content per cell. These data strongly support that editing of the HBG1 and HBG2 promoter CCAAT box using engineered AsCas12a RNP can reverse the dyserythropoiesis associated with beta thalassemia and increase the hemoglobin production. In summary, we have provided strong preclinical data supporting the development of EDIT-301 for the treatment of TDT. Edited mPB CD34 + cells retained their ability to engraft without lineage skewing, resulted in robust HbF induction long-term, improved erythropoiesis, and increased hemoglobin content in TDT erythroid cells. These data support that a single administration of EDIT-301 may have the potential to safely and effectively reverse dyserythropoiesis and ameliorate anemia in individuals with TDT long-term. Clinical studies to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of EDIT-301 in the treatment of TDT are currently being planned. Disclosures Sousa: Editas Medicine: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Janoudi: Editas Medicine: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. deDreuzy: Editas Medicine: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Shearman: Editas Medicine: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Zhang: Editas Medicine: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Chang: Editas Medicine: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

The Molecular Basis of Beta-Thalassemia Intermedia in Egyptian Children and its Association with the Clinical Phenotype

Background β-thalassemia syndromes involve a collection of extremely diverse phenotypes. The term β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI) was suggested to describe patients who had clinical manifestations that are too severe to be termed minor thalassemia yet too mild to be termed major thalassemia. However, there remains substantial overlap between the three conditions. Aim of the Work To evaluate the variable clinical phenotypes among pediatric patients with βTI and to study the phenotype / genotype correlation with the encountered β-chain mutations. Patients and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 37 Egyptian children and adolescents with TI following up regularly in the Pediatric Hematology clinic – Ain Shams University. Detailed Clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were done. Reverse hybridization PCR based assay covering beta globin Mediterranean mutations onto specific biotinylated primers, was done. Results IVS 1.6 (T>C) was the most frequent mutation detected in 20 patients and 31 alleles (47.7%), followed by IVS 1.110 (G>A) detected in 7 patients and 8 alleles (12.31%), followed by IVS 1.1 (G>A) and CD27 knossos (G>T), each was detected in 6 patients and 6 alleles (9.23%). β+β+ was the most frequent genotype (54%), followed by β+β/β°β (21.6%) and β°β+ (13.5%). 60% of β°β+ patients had TDT(Transfusion dependent thalassemia), while 87.5% of β + β/β°β patients and 55% of β + β+ patients had NTDT ((Non transfusion dependent thalassemia). Conclusion Inheritance of mild β+ thalassemia mutations among Egyptian children; as IVS 1.6 (T>C) and IVS 1.110 (G>A) is the most frequent contributor to TI phenotype in either homozygous or compound heterozygous states. Patients with the same underlying genotype presented variable phenotypes with different degrees of severity.

Evidence of new intragenic HBB haplotypes model for the prediction of beta-thalassemia in the Malaysian population

This study sought to determine the potential role of HBB haplotypes to predict beta-thalassemia in the Malaysian population. A total of 543 archived samples were selected for this study. Five tagging SNPs in the beta-globin gene (HBB; NG_000007.3) were analyzed for SNP-based and haplotype association using SHEsis online software. Single-SNP-based association analysis showed three SNPs have a statistically significant association with beta-thalassemia. When Bonferroni correction was applied, four SNPs were found statistically significant with beta-thalassemia; IVS2-74T>G (padj = 0.047), IVS2-16G>C (padj = 0.017), IVS2-666C>T (padj = 0.017) and 3’UTR + 314G>A (padj = 0.002). However, 3'UTR + 233G>C did not yield a significant association with padj value = 0.076. Further investigation using combined five SNPs for haplotype association analysis revealed three susceptible haplotypes with significant p values of which, haplotypes 1-2-2-1-1 (p = 6.49 × 10−7, OR = 10.371 [3.345–32.148]), 1-2-1-1-1 (p = 0.009, OR = 1.423 [1.095–1.850] and 1-1-1-1-1 (p = 1.39 × 10−4, OR = 10.221 [2.345–44.555]). Three haplotypes showed protective effect with significant p value of which, 2-2-1-1-1 (p = 0.006, OR = 0.668 [0.500–0.893]), 1-1-2-2-1 (p = 0.013, OR = 0.357 [0.153–0.830]) and 1-1-2-1-1 (p = 0.033, OR = 0.745 [0.567–0.977]). This study has identified the potential use of intragenic polymorphic markers in the HBB gene, which were significantly associated with beta-thalassemia. Combining these five SNPs defined a new haplotype model for beta-thalassemia and further evaluation for predicting severity in beta-thalassemia.

Synthetic mRNAs; Their Analogue Caps and Contribution to Disease

The structure of synthetic mRNAs as used in vaccination against cancer and infectious diseases contain specifically designed caps followed by sequences of the 5’ untranslated repeats of β-globin gene. The strategy for successful design of synthetic mRNAs by chemically modifying their caps aims to increase resistance to the enzymatic deccapping complex, offer a higher affinity for binding to the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (elF4E) protein and enforce increased translation of their encoded proteins. However, the cellular homeostasis is finely balanced and obeys to specific laws of thermodynamics conferring balance between complexity and growth rate in evolution. An overwhelming and forced translation even under alarming conditions of the cell during a concurrent viral infection, or when molecular pathways are trying to circumvent precursor events that lead to autoimmunity and cancer, may cause the recipient cells to ignore their differential sensitivities which are essential for keeping normal conditions. The elF4E which is a powerful RNA regulon and a potent oncogene governing cell cycle progression and proliferation at a post-transcriptional level, may then be a great contributor to disease development. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis manly inhibits the elF4E to proceed with mRNA translation but disturbance in fine balances between mTOR and elF4E action may provide a premature step towards oncogenesis, ignite pre-causal mechanisms of immune deregulation and cause maturation (aging) defects.

A Case Report: Infertility Treatment of a Female with Beta-thalassemia Major

Beta-thalassemia is caused by a genetically mediated deletion of beta-globin chain of hemoglobin. It is an autosomal recessive disease, which causes a severe medical condition that requires longterm blood transfusions. An impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis mainly causes infertility in such patients. This case report presents a 26-year-old female, a known case of beta-thalassemia major, that received monthly blood transfusions before conceiving. The patient sought consultation for the treatment of primary infertility at Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services (BDF-RMS) Hospital. The patient underwent two trials of intrauterine insemination (IUI). The goal was to build up endometrial thickness by gonadotrophins administration for embryo implantation. To conclude, IUI combined with gonadotrophins for ovarian stimulation has shown success. Keywords: Artificial Insemination, Beta-Thalassemia, Hypogonadism, Infertility, Pregnancy