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Reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) potentially alleviates clinical presentation in β-thalassemia. Prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes (PHDs) play roles in the canonical oxygen-sensing pathway and maintain the stability of cellular hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIF-α) in response to low oxygen levels or hypoxia. Pharmacological inhibition of PHDs has been shown to increase HbF production in erythroid progenitors derived from healthy donors. Here, we demonstrated the relationship between PHD2, the main PHD isoform, and clinical phenotypes in β0-thalassemia/HbE disease. Although the targeted sequencing annotated several common variants within EGLN1, the gene encoding PHD2, none of these variants were located in the functional domains of PHD2 and were irrelevant to the clinical phenotypes. CRISPR-mediated EGLN1 modifications at the functional regions; however, led to significantly reduce PHD2 expression and increase HbF expression levels in severe β-thalassemia erythroblasts. Moreover, these beneficial phenotypes were independent to the two well-known HbF regulators including BCL11A and GATA1. Our findings introduce an additional mechanism for HbF regulation in β-thalassemia and propose that targeting the canonical oxygen-sensing pathway, particularly PHD2 functional domains, might offer a promising therapeutic strategy to β-thalassemia diseases.

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MicroRNA-223 (miR-223) is dysregulated in various cancer types, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite this, there has been a lack of studies exploring the role of miR-223 in leukemic stem cells, particularly those involved in drug resistance, a major cause of chemotherapy failure in AML. The present study aimed to elucidate the impact of miR-223 on drug resistance in the leukemic stem-cell line, KG-1a. Two AML cell lines, KG-1 and KG-1a, differing in the proportion of CD34 + CD38 - cells, were assessed for doxorubicin (DOX) sensitivity using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The expression levels of miR-223 and protein kinase C ε (PKCε) were evaluated via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. The association between miR-223 and its target, PKCε, was confirmed by luciferase activity assay. The effects of miR-223 overexpression and PKCε inhibition were also evaluated in KG-1a cells using miR-223 mimic and small interfering (si)RNA transfection, respectively. Daunorubicin was then used to assess drug sensitivity in the siRNA-transfected KG-1a cells. Compared with KG-1 cells, KG-1a cells displayed greater resistance to DOX, and had increased PKCε levels and decreased miR-223 expression. Overexpression of miR-223 led to PKCε protein downregulation in KG-1a cells, which was further confirmed by a luciferase assay demonstrating miR-223 targeting of PKCε. However, despite these effects, miR-223 overexpression and PKCε inhibition did not change drug sensitivity in KG-1a cells compared with negative control cells. In summary, the present study demonstrated that miR-223 could target and silence PKCε expression in KG-1a cells; however, the chemoresistance of KG-1a cells to anthracycline drugs may not be directly associated with the low expression of miR-223., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Osiriphan et al.)

Introduction: The α 0 -thalassemia 44.6 kb or Chiang Rai (-- CR ) deletion has been reported in northern Thailand and is capable of causing hemoglobin (Hb) H disease and a lethal α-thalassemia genotype, Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis, in this region. However, there are no current data regarding the frequency of -- CR nationwide due to a lack of effective diagnostic assay. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a reliable platform for simultaneous genotyping of -- CR and two common α 0 -thalassemias in Thailand (-- SEA and -- THAI ) and investigate the frequency of -- CR across Thailand., Methods: Multiplex gap-PCR assay and five renewable plasmid DNA controls for -- CR , -- SEA , -- THAI , α2-globin (HBA2), and β-actin (ACTB) were newly developed and validated with reference methods. The developed assay was further tested on 1046 unrelated individuals with a reduced mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of less than 75 fl for investigating genotypic and allelic spectrum of -- CR ., Results: Our developed assay showed 100% concordance with reference methods. The results were valid and reproducible throughout hundreds of reactions. Comparison of the genotypic and allelic spectra revealed that heterozygous -- SEA (-- SEA /αα) and -- SEA alleles were dominant with the frequency of 22.85% (239/1046) and 13.34% (279/2092), respectively. Of these, -- THAI and -- CR were relatively rare in this population and comparable to each other with the allelic frequency of 0.14% (3/2092)., Conclusion: This study successfully established a reliable molecular diagnostic platform for genotyping of -- CR , -- SEA , and -- THAI in a single reaction. Additionally, we demonstrated the frequency of -- CR in Thailand for the first time and provided knowledge basis for the planning of severe α-thalassemia prevention and control programs in Thailand, where thalassemia is endemic., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/University College London.)

FGFR1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase deregulated in certain breast cancers (BCs) with a poor prognosis. Although FGFR1-activated phosphorylation cascades have been mapped, the key genes regulated by FGFR1 in BC are largely unclear. FOXQ1 is an oncogenic transcription factor. Although we found that activation of FGFR1 robustly upregulated FOXQ1 mRNA, how FGFR1 regulates FOXQ1 gene expression and whether FOXQ1 is essential for FGFR1-stimulated cell proliferation are unknown. Herein, we confirmed that activation of FGFR1 robustly upregulated FOXQ1 mRNA and protein in BC cells. Knockdown of FOXQ1 blocked the FGFR1 signaling-stimulated BC cell proliferation, colony formation, and xenograft tumor growth. Inhibition of MEK or ERK1/2 activities, or knockout of ERK2 but not ERK1 suppressed the FGFR1 signaling-promoted FOXQ1 gene expression. Inhibition of ERK2 in ERK1 knockout cells blocked, while ectopic expression of FOXQ1 in ERK2 knockout cells rescued the FGFR1-signaling-promoted cell growth. Mechanistically, c-FOS, an early response transcription factor upregulated by the FGFR1-MEK-ERK2 pathway, bound to the FOXQ1 promoter to mediate the FGFR1 signaling-promoted FOXQ1 expression. These results indicate that the FGFR1-ERK2-c-FOS-FOXQ1 regulatory axis plays an essential role in the FGFR1 signaling-promoted BC growth. Targeting ERK2 and FOXQ1 should block BC growth caused by a deregulated FGFR1 signaling., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

The accumulation of unbound α-globin chains in red blood cells is a crucial pathophysiology of β-thalassemia. IOX1 (5-carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline) is a broad-spectrum 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase inhibitor that can reduce α-globin mRNA expression in human cord blood erythroid progenitor cells. Therefore, IOX1 has been proposed as a potential compound for β-thalassemia treatment through the decrease in α-globin chain synthesis. However, there is no empirical evidence regarding the consequences of IOX1 in β-thalassemia. In this study, the therapeutic effects of IOX1 were investigated in β 0 -thalassemia/hemoglobin E (HbE) erythroid progenitor cells during in vitro erythropoiesis. The results indicated that IOX1 had no impact on α-globin gene expression, but it led instead to significant decreases in γ-globin and fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α 2 γ 2 ) production without affecting well-known globin regulators: KLF1, BCL11A, LRF, and GATA1. In addition, differential mRNA expression of several genes in the hypoxia response pathway revealed the induction of EGLN1, the PHD2-encoding gene, as a result of IOX1 treatment. These findings suggested that IOX1 fails to lower α-globin gene expression; on the contrary, it mediates γ-globin and HbF silencing in β 0 -thalassemia/HbE erythroid progenitor cells. Because of the negative correlation of EGLN1 and γ-globin gene expression after IOX1 treatment, repurposing IOX1 to study the hypoxia response pathway and γ-globin regulation may provide beneficial information for β-thalassemia., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 ISEH -- Society for Hematology and Stem Cells. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A large novel 44.6 kb deletion named α 0 -thalassemia Chiang Rai (-- CR ) was first described in the individuals with uncommon Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis and HbH disease. This study aimed to develop a real-time gap PCR and melt curve analysis for the detection of -- CR and investigate its frequency in northern Thailand. Among 4,952 blood samples, the assay was performed in 525 samples with a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) < 80 fL, HbA 2 < 3.5%, HbA 2 +E < 25%, and negative for common deletional α 0 -thalassemia -- SEA and -- THAI . The developed method showed T m values of 85.8 ± 0.0 °C and 91.5 ± 0.1 °C, which were specific for -- CR and wild-type alleles, respectively. Nine (0.18% of 4,952 or 1.71% of 525) were positive for -- CR , in which two were HbH disease and the rest were heterozygous for -- CR . This study demonstrated the success of real-time gap PCR with melt curve analysis for -- CR diagnosis. Additionally, the prevalence of -- CR in the northern Thai population was comparable to -- THAI . Thus, this study implies the importance of -- CR in northern Thailand. Moreover, the developed real-time gap PCR with melt curve analysis is simple and highly accurate, and may be considered as an additional tool for routine α 0 -thalassemia -- CR diagnosis in this region.

Hb Dhonburi (also known as Hb Neapolis) ( HBB : c.380T>G) is an unstable hemoglobin (Hb) variant that cannot be detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary electrophoresis (CE) in routine laboratory diagnosis. This could lead to prenatal misdiagnosis unless a molecular analysis is applied. Here, we report a Thai couple with a positive result for the dichlorophenolindophenol precipitation (DCIP) screening test. After routine laboratory investigation, the female was diagnosed with heterozygous Hb E ( HBB : c.79G>A) during pregnancy; however, the male, whose case we present herein, was suspected to carry a rare heterozygous β-thalassemia (β-thal). Therefore, they were designated as a couple at-risk for having a fetus with a serious thalassemia genotype: compound heterozygosity for Hb E with β-thal (Hb E/β-thal). Based on the result of the DCIP test, his DNA was sequenced for a causative mutation and revealed heterozygosity for a rare Hb variant, Hb Dhonburi. Theoretically, this couple was not at risk for Hb E/β-thal. Furthermore, this case demonstrates for the first time that in addition to a common Hb variant, i.e . Hb E, Hb Dhonburi (Hb Neapolis) also gives positive DCIP results, even in the heterozygous state.

The Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family dominates highly conserved three zinc finger DNA binding domains at the C-terminus and variable transactivation domains at the N-terminus. Humans possess 18 KLF genes that are differentially expressed in various tissues. Several KLFs recognize a specific CACCC DNA motif that is commonly found within hematopoietic-specific promoters. To investigate those KLFs that are involved in human hemoglobin (Hb) switching, the present study analyzed a previous microarray data set from fetal and adult erythroid cells and validated the mRNA expression levels of 18 KLF s by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). KLF with a decreased expression level in the fetuses was selected for a functional study in human erythroid progenitor cells using lentiviral-based short hairpin RNA knockdown. The fetuses demonstrated a lower level of KLF4 mRNA expression when compared with the adults. Downregulation of KLF4 in erythroid progenitor cells from healthy individuals and individuals with β 0 -thalassemia/HbE evidenced the increasing embryonic and fetal globin mRNA expression with neither significant cytotoxicity nor gene expression alteration of the examined globin regulators, KLF1, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A and lymphoma/leukemia-related factor. These findings demonstrate that the downregulation of KLF4 is associated with increased embryonic and fetal globin gene expression in human erythroid progenitor cells. Moreover, identifying putative compounds or molecular approaches that effectively downregulate KLF4 and further induce embryonic globin expression may provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for α-globin substitution in severe α-thalassemia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Many polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques have been used for routine diagnosis of α- and β-thalassemias. However, most require a multi step of post-PCR processes that are time-consuming and labor-intensive procedures. This study reported the successful use of multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), with high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for diagnosis of two common deletional α 0 -thalassemia (α 0 -thal) and 15 common β-thalassemia (β-thal) mutations, in order to identify a couple at-risk of having a newborn with severe thalassemia in the northern region of Thailand. With this approach, 22 (7.2%) of 306 couples were diagnosed as being at-risk for having a child with severe thalassemia, including three homozygous α 0 -thal, five homozygous β-thal and 14 Hb E ( HBB : c.79G>A)/β 0 -thal disease. Our findings indicated that multiplex qPCR with HRM is applicable for routine molecular diagnosis in order to identify a couple at-risk of having a newborn with severe thalassemia, especially in an endemic region.

α 0 -Thalassemia (α 0 -thal) Chiang Rai (- - CR ; NC&#95;000016.10: g.144215&#95;188843del) was identified as a novel 44.6 kb deletional type of α-thalassemia (α-thal), removing all α-like globin genes. However, little is known about the deleterious effects of this genetic disorder, particularly when it is combined with other types of thalassemia. We performed molecular analysis of the - - CR deletion using gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) in two independent families residing in Phayao and Chiang Mai, Thailand, with an unknown causative mutation for Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome and Hb H disease. Five out of seven individuals were diagnosed to be heterozygous for the - - CR deletion. Of these, two also carried Hb H disease with compound heterozygosities for - - CR and -α 3.7 (rightward) deletions. However, hematological parameters of the - - CR carriers displayed microcytic hypochromic anemia that is comparable to other α 0 -thal traits. Although the prevalence of - - CR has never been elucidated in a specific population, our study demonstrated that genotyping for - - CR might be considered as an additional investigation for unexplained Hb Bart's hydrops fetal syndrome and Hb H disease.

Sex estimation by various forensic anthropology approaches is a crucial factor for identification of human skeletal remains. However, inexpensive, uncomplicated and reliable methods are still required, especially in a remote crime scene and a high crime incidence area. Here, we examined 13 sacral parameters from 78 independent skeletons derived from deceases found in Central Thailand (male, n = 46; female, n = 32) using simple standard anthropometric techniques for sex allocation. Discriminant analysis exhibited that anterior-posterior diameter of S 1 vertebra corpus (APS) is the most accurate sacral parameter for sex determination in our study with 82.1% of correct discrimination rate. The accuracy could be improved up to 97.4% when additional three sacral variables including the length of sacrum measured from the medial anterior-superior sacral promontory to the medial anterior-inferior S 5 vertebra (ASL), alar index (ALI), and the maximum anterior breadth of sacrum measured across sacral alar (ABS) were computed together with APS. These encourage the use of sacral morphometrics for sex assessment of human sacrum remains in Central Thailand. However, further investigation with broadening sacral morphometric data across the country might provide a promising sex determination equation from a sacral skeleton for Thai population., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: β-Thalassemia/hemoglobin E represents one-half of all the clinically severe β-thalassemias worldwide. Despite similar genetic backgrounds, patients show clinical heterogeneity ranging from nearly asymptomatic to transfusion-dependent thalassemia. The underlying disease modifying factors remain largely obscure., Methods: To elucidate the correlation between ineffective erythropoiesis and β0-thalassemia/hemoglobin E (HbE) disease severity, in vitro culture of erythroid cells derived from patients with different clinical symptoms was established. Cell proliferation, viability, and differentiation were investigated. To identify potential molecular mechanisms leading to the arrested erythroid maturation, the expression levels of erythropoiesis modifying factors were measured., Results: The β0-thalassemia/HbE cells exhibited enhanced proliferation, limited differentiation, and impaired erythroid terminal maturation but did not show accelerated erythroblast differentiation and increased cell death. Erythroblasts derived from mild patients showed the highest proliferation rate with a faster cell division time, while erythroblasts derived from severe patients displayed extremely delayed erythroid maturation. Downregulation of growth differentiation factor 11 and FOXO3a was observed in mild β0-thalassemia/HbE erythroblasts, while upregulation of heat shock protein 70 and activin receptor 2A was revealed in severe erythroblasts., Discussion/conclusion: The degree of erythroid expansion and maturation arrest contributes to the severity of β0-thalassemia/HbE patients, accounting for the disease heterogeneity. The findings suggest a restoration of erythroid maturation as a promising targeted therapy for severe patients., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)