Reciprocal regulation of γ-globin expression by exo-miRNAs: Relevance to γ-globin silencing in β-thalassemia major.

ABSTRACT: Induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is a promising strategy in the treatment of β-thalassemia major (β-TM). The present study shows that plasma exosomal miRNAs (exo-miRs) are involved in γ-globin regulation. Exosomes shuttle miRNAs and mediate cell-cell communication. MiRNAs are regulators of biological processes through post-transcriptional targeting. Compared to HD (Healthy Donor), β-TM patients showed increased levels of plasma exosomes and the majority of exosomes had cellular origin from CD34+ cells. Further, HD and β-TM exosomes showed differential miRNA expressions. Among them, deregulated miR-223-3p and miR-138-5p in β-TM exosomes and HD had specific targets for γ-globin regulator and repressor respectively. Functional studies in K562 cells showed that HD exosomes and miR-138-5p re

SUBMITTER: Sun KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5427890 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature