Transgenic and gene knock-out mouse models of sickle cell anemia and the thalassemias

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia and the thalassemias are globally the most common class of inherited disorders. Current treatment options are limited (transfusion, iron chelation) and are not suited to large-scale use in developing countries where the population of affected individuals is expected to undergo a tremendous increase in the near future. As such, the development of more practical and more permanent therapies is urgently needed. Recently, transgenic and gene knock-out technologies have been used to create mouse models for sickle cell anemia and all of the clinically relevant thalassemias (hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis, hemoglobin H disease, beta-thalassemia intermedia, beta-thalassemia major/Cooley's anemia). These newly developed murine models should play an important role in the development of improved approaches for treating these commonly occurring genetic diseases.