title: Butyric acid modulates developmental globin gene switching in man and sheep.
abstract: The developmental switch from production of fetal (gamma) to adult (beta) globin occurs on a normally set biologic clock which proceeds even if the adult (beta) globin genes are defective. Preventing or reversing the globin gene switch would be beneficial for subjects with abnormal beta globin genes. We have now identified a class of agents which, when present in elevated plasma concentrations during gestation, appears to inhibit the gamma beta globin gene switch in developing humans. Further investigation has shown that butyric acid and related compounds can increase gamma globin and decrease beta globin expression in erythroid cells cultured from subjects with diseases of abnormal beta globin. Butyrate compounds were therefore infused in an in vivo fetal animal model, and the globin switch was inhibited in most and reversed in some fetal lambs. These data suggest that inhibiting expression of abnormal beta globin genes may be possible in future generations. Histone modification may be a mechanism of action involved. The developmental switch from production of gamma globin to beta globin results in significant morbidity when the beta globin genes are defective. The globin switch has therefore been extensively studied, appearing to be set on a biologic clock and proceeding despite the site of blood production and solely on the basis of gestational age. We previously found that this developmental gene switch is delayed in human fetuses developing in the presence of maternal diabetes. A number of metabolites present in abnormal concentrations in these infants were therefore tested for effects on globin expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, CA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Perrine
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Faller
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reczek
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kan
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020148:Butyric Acid; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005812:Genes, Switch / Q000187:drug effects*; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D006657:Histones; D020148:Butyric Acid; D005914:Globins; D006441:Hemoglobin A; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin