Effects of human gamma-globin in murine beta-thalassaemia

Murine models of beta-thalassaemia have been used to test therapeutic globin gene vectors. However, the level of gamma-globin expression necessary to achieve full phenotypic correction in these models is unclear. In order to address this issue, we carried out breeding and transplantation studies in murine models of beta-thalassaemia intermedia (Hbb(th-3)/+) and severe beta-thalassaemia major (Hbb(th-3)/Hbb(th-3)) using transgenic lines expressing various levels of human gamma-globin. Expression of gamma-globin RNA at a modest 7-14% of total alpha-globin RNA resulted in the selective survival of HbF(+) erythrocytes, a fivefold increase in total HbF, and a phenotypic improvement in the beta-thalassaemia intermedia model. Full normalisation of erythrocyte indices in this model required gamma-globin RNA expression at 27% of alpha-globin, resulting in an average 40% (6.8 g/dl) HbF. Studies using the homozygous Hbb(th-3) model of lethal beta-thalassaemia major demonstrated that even this high level of gamma-globin expression, for reasons related to the function of the hybrid globin tetramers, could only prolong, but not fully support, survival. Taken together, these results indicate that only the heterozygous Hbb(th-3) model of beta-thalassaemia intermedia can be reliably used for the pre-clinical assessment of gamma-globin gene therapy vectors, as well as other means of gamma-globin gene induction.