Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anemia, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Generation of transgenic mice expressing human hemoglobin E.

Chen Q, Bouhassira EE, Besse A, Suzuka SM, Fabry ME, Nagel RL, Hirsch RE

Department of Medicine/Hematology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

Hemoglobin E (HbE, beta26 Glu-->Lys) is the most common abnormal Hb variant in the world, and found in greatest frequency in Southeast (SE) Asia. In the United States, HbE is the third most prevalent variant (after HbS and HbC); and its now increasing frequency is due to immigration from SE Asia. HbE homozygotes present a benign clinical picture, but when HbE is coupled with beta0-thalassemia or HbS, variably severe hemoglobinopathies arise. To date, there are no transgenic animal models of HbE-related diseases. We report here the creation of transgenic mice expressing human HbE as a step toward creating animal models for HbE-related diseases. The betaE mice exhibit red blood cell hypochromia and target cells consistent with those observed in human patients exhibiting HbE trait. Furthermore, the transgenic HbE hemolysates contain increased amounts of Hb oxidation products.

Published 5 November 2004 in Blood Cells Mol Dis, 33(3): 303-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Anemia Research Today. All Rights Reserved.