title: Evaluation of Novel Fetal Hemoglobin Inducer Drugs in Treatment of β-Hemoglobinopathy Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inducer drugs is considered as a novel approach in treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies, especially β- thalassemia and sickle cell disease. HbF inducers including hydroxyurea, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor agents such as sodium butyrate, azacitidine, decitabine and new immunomodulator drugs like pomalidomide, lenalidomide and thalidomide can reduce α-globin chain production in erythroid progenitors and improve α: β chain imbalance, the most crucial complication of β-thalassemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article, we reviewed more than 40 articles published from 1979 to 2012 in the field of fetal hemoglobin augmentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies suggest the synergistic effect of drug combinations in efficient induction of fetal hemoglobin and gene over-expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that drugs which act with different molecular and epigenetic mechanisms have proper synergistic effects in fetal hemoglobin induction and gene over-expression.
authors: Sarem Cell Research Center-SCRC, Sarem Women's Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali Dehghani
authors: AD
authors: Fard
authors: Department of nutrition, Allied Health Sciences School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Seyed Ahmad
authors: SA
authors: Hosseini
authors: Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Shahjahani
authors: Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Salari
authors: Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Kaveh
authors: K
authors: Jaseb
keywords: Fetal hemoglobin; Histone deacetylase; β-Hemoglobinopathies