biostudies-literatureChondrou VResearch Promotion FoundationFP7 Health24https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5654038biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)<h4>Background</h4>Human erythropoiesis is characterized by distinct gene expression profiles at various developmental stages. Previous studies suggest that fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch is regulated by a complex mechanism, in which many key players still remain unknown. Here, we report our findings from whole transcriptome analysis of erythroid cells, isolated from erythroid tissues at various developmental stages in an effort to identify distinct molecular signatures of each erythroid tissue.<h4>Results</h4>From our in-depth data analysis, pathway analysis, and text mining, we opted to focus on the VEGFA gene, given its gene expression characteristics. Selected VEGFA genomic variants, identified through linkage disequilibrium analysis, were explored further for their association with Human genomicsWhole transcriptome analysis of human erythropoietic cells during ontogenesis suggests a role of VEGFA gene as modulator of fetal hemoglobin and pharmacogenomic biomarker of treatment response to hydroxyurea in β-type hemoglobinopathy patients.PMC5654038305444RFP_046Sgourou AKastrinou VPapachatzopoulou AKourakli AKatsila TSymeonidis APatrinos GPChondrou VKolovos PPavlidaki AJohn AAli BRfalseWhole transcriptome analysis of human erythropoietic cells during ontogenesis suggests a role of VEGFA gene as modulator of fetal hemoglobin and pharmacogenomic biomarker of treatment response to hydroxyurea in β-type hemoglobinopathy patients.<h4>Background</h4>Human erythropoiesis is characterized by distinct gene expression profiles at various developmental stages. Previous studies suggest that fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch is regulated by a complex mechanism, in which many key players still remain unknown. Here, we report our findings from whole transcriptome analysis of erythroid cells, isolated from erythroid tissues at various developmental stages in an effort to identify distinct molecular signatures of each erythroid tissue.<h4>Results</h4>From our in-depth data analysis, pathway analysis, and text mining, we opted to focus on the VEGFA gene, given its gene expression characteristics. Selected VEGFA genomic variants, identified through linkage disequilibrium analysis, were explored further for their association with 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Oct2026-06-06T22:40:27.158Z2019-03-27T02:59:45ZS-EPMC56540382906116210.1186/s40246-017-0120-8