Epigenetic Insights and Potential Modifiers as Therapeutic Targets in <i>β</i>–Thalassemia

• Main Authors: Nur Atikah Zakaria, Md Asiful Islam, Wan Zaidah Abdullah, Rosnah Bahar, Abdul Aziz Mohamed Yusoff, Ridhwan Abdul Wahab, Shaharum Shamsuddin, Muhammad Farid Johan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Biomolecules
• Subjects: thalassemia; <i>β</i>–thalassemia; epigenetics; DNA methylation; <i>IGSF4</i>; <i>LARP2</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/5/755

Thalassemia, an inherited quantitative globin disorder, consists of two types, α– and <i>β</i>–thalassemia. <i>β</i>–thalassemia is a heterogeneous disease that can be asymptomatic, mild, or even severe. Considerable research has focused on investigating its underlying etiology. These studies found that DNA hypomethylation in the β–globin gene cluster is significantly related to fetal hemoglobin (HbF) elevation. Histone modification reactivates γ-globin gene expression in adults and increases β–globin expression. Down-regulation of γ–globin suppressor genes, i.e., <i>BCL11A</i>, <i>KLF1</i>, <i>HBG-XMN1</i>, <i>HBS1L-MYB</i>, and <i>SOX6,</i> elevates the HbF level. <i>β</i>–thalassemia severity is predictable through <i>FLT1</i>, <i>ARG2</i>, <i>NOS2A</i>, and <i>MAP3K5</i> gene expression. <i>NOS2A</i> and <i>MAP3K5</i> may predict the <i>β</i>–thalassemia patient’s response to hydroxyurea, a HbF-inducing drug. The transcription factors NRF2 and <i>BACH1</i> work with antioxidant enzymes, i.e., <i>PRDX1</i>, <i>PRDX2</i>, <i>TRX1</i>, and <i>SOD1</i>, to protect erythrocytes from oxidative damage, thus increasing their lifespan. A single <i>β</i>–thalassemia-causing mutation can result in different phenotypes, and these are predictable by <i>IGSF4</i> and <i>LARP2</i> methylation as well as long non-coding RNA expression levels. Finally, the coinheritance of <i>β</i>–thalassemia with α–thalassemia ameliorates the <i>β</i>–thalassemia clinical presentation. In conclusion, the management of <i>β</i>–thalassemia is currently limited to genetic and epigenetic approaches, and numerous factors should be further explored in the future.