RNF187 is Downregulated Following NF-κB Inhibition in Late Erythroblasts

Beta (β)-thalassaemic erythroblasts grown in vitro have reduced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway gene expression. By inhibiting this pathway in erythroblasts from normal individuals, important downstream genes affected by this inhibition can be identified. Bay 11-7082 is a potent inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway, it acts irreversibly, inhibiting NF-κB activation by blocking tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced phosphorylation of the inhibitory IκB subunit thereby preventing NF-κB activation. In this study, hematopoietic stem cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of 6 healthy individuals and were then cultured for 14 days in conditions which promote erythroid differentiation. Following erythroid lineage enrichment, these cells were stimulated with TNFα or inhibited with Bay 11-7082. Subsequent RNA isolation and gene expression analyses were performed using pooled cDNA with custom PCR arrays. Genes of interest were examined individually on non-pooled samples. Our data identified RNF187, a RING finger domain gene as being downregulated in response to NF-κB inhibition.