Anemia Severity in β-Thalassemia Correlates with Elevated Levels of microRNA-125b in Activated Phagocytic Monocytes

• Published in: Hemoglobin Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 155 - 161
• Main Authors: Kuno, Suhaibee, Penglong, Tipparat, Srinoun, Kanitta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 04-05-2019
• Subjects: Activated monocyte; Adolescent; Alleles; Anemia - blood; Anemia - diagnosis; Anemia - etiology; anemia severity; beta-Globins - genetics; beta-Thalassemia - blood; beta-Thalassemia - complications; beta-Thalassemia - diagnosis; beta-Thalassemia - genetics; Biomarkers; Child; Erythrocyte Indices - genetics; Female; Humans; Male; microRNA-125b (miR-125b); MicroRNAs - genetics; Monocytes - metabolism; Mutation; phagocytosis; Phagocytosis - genetics; β-thalassemia (β-thal); anemia severity; phagocytosis; β-thalassemia (β-thal); microRNA-125b (miR-125b); Activated monocyte
• ISSN: 0363-0269; 1532-432X
• DOI: 10.1080/03630269.2019.1628043

β-Thalassemia (β-thal), is an inherited blood disorder caused by reduced or absent synthesis of β-globin chains leading to imbalance of globin chain synthesis. The clearance of β-thalassemic abnormal red blood cells (RBCs) that result from excessive unbound α-globin is mainly achieved by activated monocytes. The phagocytic activity of β-thal monocytes significantly increases when co-cultured with normal and β-thal RBC individuals compare to that of normal monocytes co-cultured with normal RBCs. The present study indicates that microRNA (miR) plays a role in monocyte activation. In this study, we identified the higher miR-125b expression in CD14 marker-positive monocytic cells of β-thal patients. Moreover, miR-125b expression levels positively correlate with the phagocytic activity of monocytes. Remarkably, miR-125b expression levels are negatively correlated with RBC count, hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit [or packed cell volume (PCV)], which are the indices for the severity of anemia. From these findings, our future studies will be to prove the hypothesis that miR-125b expression in activated monocytes may be a genetic modifier related to the severity of anemia in β-thal patients.