Bringing genetics and epigenetics to the fetal-adult hemoglobin switch
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Stuart H. Orkin, M.D.
Professor of Pediatric Medicine
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dr. Orkin trained at NIH in the laboratory of Philip Leder. His current research focuses on the intersections of transcriptional control with stem-cell biology, hematopoiesis, and cancer. His research achievements include the comprehensive dissection of the molecular basis of the thalassemia syndromes, the first use of positional cloning to identify a human-disease gene (for chronic granulomatous disease), and cloning of the first master regulator of blood-cell development.
Summary
During ontogeny the expression of genes encoding the beta-like globins in humans switches from embryonic, to fetal, to adult globins. The switch from fetal hemoglobin (HbF, alpha2 gamma2) to adult hemoglobin (HbA, alpha2 beta2) is critical to the beta-hemoglobin disorders, namely sickle-cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia. Family and natural-history studies have revealed the beneficial effects of increased HbF on the severity of these disorders. Thus, reactivation of HbF in adults has been a long-sought goal as a means to treat both SCD and beta-thalassemia. Until recently, the molecular basis of the HbF to HbA switch has been obscure.
This lecture will review recent findings that implicate the transcriptional repressor BCL11A as a principal regulator of the switch. The studies to be reviewed include genome-wide association studies, mouse genetics, biochemistry, and recent human genetics. Importantly, genetic variation in an essential erythroid enhancer within the BCL11A locus controls its output, and now represents a prime candidate for genome editing as a novel form of gene therapy for the hemoglobin disorders. Ultimately, the discovery and development of small molecules that impair BCL11A function may provide a new class of drugs to treat these major diseases.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, August 11, 2021