title: Genetic correction of sickle cell disease: insights using transgenic mouse models.
abstract: Sickle cell disease is a hereditary disorder characterized by erythrocyte deformity due to hemoglobin polymerization. We assessed in vivo the potential curative threshold of fetal hemoglobin in the SAD transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease using mating with mice expressing the human fetal Agamma-globin gene. With increasing levels of HbF, AgammaSAD mice showed considerable improvement in all hematologic parameters, morphopathologic features and life span/survival. We established the direct therapeutic effect of fetal hemoglobin on sickle cell disease and demonstrated correction by increasing fetal hemoglobin to about 9-16% in this mouse model. This in vivo study emphasizes the potential of the SAD mouse models for quantitative analysis of gene therapy approaches.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal, Molecular Genetics and Development, Faculte de Medecine de L'Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blouin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beauchemin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Paepe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorette
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bleau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stamatoyannopoulos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trudel
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000235:genetics; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000235:genetics; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D008136:Longevity; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin