Human CD34-derived erythroid progenitors treated with BCL11A siRNAs

Differences in the amount of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) that persists into adulthood affect the severity of sickle cell disease and the beta-thalassemia syndromes. Genetic association studies have identified sequence variants in the gene BCL11A that influence HbF levels. Here we examine BCL11A as a potential regulator of HbF expression. The high HbF BCL11A genotype is associated with reduced BCL11A expression. Moreover, abundant expression of full-length forms of BCL11A is developmentally restricted to adult erythroid cells. Down-regulation of BCL11A expression in primary adult erythroid cells leads to robust HbF expression. Consistent with a direct role of BCL11A in globin gene regulation, we find that BCL11A occupies several discrete sites in the beta-globin gene cluster. BCL11A emerges as a therapeutic target for reactivation of HbF in beta-hemoglobin disorders. BCL11A siRNA label: B, NT siRNA label: N Keywords: cell type comparsion Microarray expression analysis from CD34-derived erythroid progenitors treated with either non-targeting (NT) control siRNAs or BCL11A targeting siRNAs. Six samples from the NT control and six samples from the BCL11A siRNA treatment are included. Cells were harvested on day 7 of erythroid differentiation after introduction of siRNAs on day 0 of the differentiation protocol. 6 BCL11A siRNA datasets, 6 control (NT) datasets