[Advance of research on the role of BCL11A in the occurrence and treatment of β-Thalassemia].

Abstract

β-Thalassemia is a single-gene disease caused by mutations in β-globin and has a distinct geographical characteristics. Current treatment for patients with moderate to severe thalassemia has mainly relied on long-term blood transfusion and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. B cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) as a transcriptional repressor plays a vital role in monitoring γ/β hemoglobin switching, maintaining the normal function of hematopoietic stem cells, and regulating erythrocyte differentiation and lymphocyte development. With the rapid progress in gene editing technology, the BCL11A as a therapeutic target for β-thalassemia has shown promising results. This article has systematically summarized the regulatory mechanism and therapeutic potential of the BCL11A, with an aim to provide new ideas for the treatment of β-thalassemia.