COUP-TFII regulates hemoglobin switching by activating the BCL11A-XL repressor Lin28B and directly binding δ and β globin promoters in fetal versus adult erythroid cells
The reactivation of fetal globin genes is the most promising treatment for β-hemoglobinopathies. This implies the reversal of the naturally occurring hemoglobin switching. Here, we show that expression of the orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TFII in adult HUDEP2 erythroid precursor cells activates γ-glo...
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| Published in: | Haematologica (Roma) Vol. 999; no. 1 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Italy
Ferrata Storti Foundation
27.11.2025
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| ISSN: | 1592-8721, 0390-6078, 1592-8721 |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The reactivation of fetal globin genes is the most promising treatment for β-hemoglobinopathies. This implies the reversal of the naturally occurring hemoglobin switching. Here, we show that expression of the orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TFII in adult HUDEP2 erythroid precursor cells activates γ-globin (HbF) at the expense of β-adult globin by specific occupation of the "adult" δ-β-region within the β-locus. Notably, although COUPT-FII and the main γ-globin repressor BCL11A-XL share a similar DNA binding consensus and a large number of chromatin targets, including the locus control region of the β-locus itself, they bind differentially to the γ and β promoters, eliciting an opposite transcriptional outcome. In addition, we find that COUP-TFII activates LinN28B, a known posttranscriptional repressor of BCL11A-XL. Our work identifies a molecular mechanism that could be leveraged to increase γ-globin levels in patients affected by β-hemoglobinopathies. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1592-8721 0390-6078 1592-8721 |
| DOI: | 10.3324/haematol.2025.288485 |