Our long-term objective of this proposed research is to contribute to the more comprehensive understanding of the regulation of hemoglobin synthesis and erythropoiesis under stress conditions and in red cell disorders. In this proposal, we focus on the role of the heme-regulated eIF21 kinase (HRI) signaling pathway in oxidative stress and stress erythropoiesis of chronic iron deficiency and ?-thalassemia. Our laboratory has demonstrated that HRI is necessary to reduce ineffective erythropoiesis and to maintain proper gene expression in erythroid precursors during iron deficiency, in addition to translational control of globin synthesis. HRI is also essential for reducing the phenotypic severities of ?-thalassemia. Recently, we uncovered a novel role of HRI in erythroid differentiation during iron deficiency anemia and in 2-thalassemia. Additionally, HRI also induces the ATF4 stress response pathway upon oxidative stress in the erythroid lineage to mitigate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. We hypothesize that the HRI mediated eIF21P-ATF4 stress response pathway is necessary to reduce oxidative stress and to promote erythroid differentiation during stress erythropoiesis. We will investigate this hypothesis using in vivo stress models of ?- thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia. The signaling pathway will be delineated using erythroid specific ablation of eIF21 phosphorylation and ATF4-/- mouse models. Ineffective erythropoiesis that occurs in ?- thalassemia is the source of major complications in this disease and other red cell disorders with hemoglobinopathy. Results from our proposed studies should further advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism of ineffective erythropoiesis and the functions of HRI in the growth and differentiation of erythroid cells under stress conditions and in disease states. The outcome of this proposed study might also lead to potential application of HRI and its signaling pathway in treating thalassemia and other red cell diseases. Anemia is also prevalent in patients with chronic inflammations, cancers, and diabetes as well as upon aging. The outcome of these proposed studies might also provide insights into these anemias.
The purpose of this proposed research is to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ineffective red blood cell development in anemias of iron deficiency and ?-thalassemia. The outcome of this study may lead to the discovery of novel drug treatment for red blood cell diseases.
