Journal of Genetics and Genomes

In Vivo Evaluation of Bcl-xl, Foxo3, ARG1, and miR-144/451 Genes in Response to Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydroxyurea in ?-Thalassemia Major Patients

Abstract

Azita Azarkeivan, Mohammad Taher Hojati, Azita Azarkeivan, Ali Akbar Pourfathollah and Naser Amirizadeh4 

Introduction: Use of HU among beta-thalassemia patients show different clinical outcomes and about 25% of patients do not response to this agent; the objective of this study was to evaluate the possible role of expression of anti-oxidative genes in response to HU.
Materials and methods: For miRNAs and mRNAs, RT-PCR was done by using specific primer for each miRNA and random hexamers for mRNAs.
Results: In responders, we observed a higher expression of Bcl-xl, Foxo3, ARG1, and miR-451 in comparison to non-Responders. For miR-144, we did not find any difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: As Hu can induce production of HbF, activation of genes involved in regulation of oxidative stress in responders may have a critical role in the survival of erythroid progenitors and maturation. So, it can cause to increase Hb levels in responders in comparison to non-responders