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Overview of new approaches to β-thalassemia treatment

GUO Xian-Feng^1,2, HAN Lu^1,2, ZHANG Xu-Chao^1,2, ZHANG Hai-Hang^1,2, LIU Jing^1,2,*

¹School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China；²Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology in Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China

Abstract

Hemoglobinopathies are one of the most common single-gene genetic disorders globally, with approximately 1% to 5% of the global population carrying the mutated gene for thalassemia. Thalassemia are classified into transfusion-dependent thalassemia and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia based on the need for blood transfusion. Traditional treatment modalities include blood transfusion, splenectomy, hydroxyurea therapy, and iron chelation therapy, which are now widely used for clinical treatment and constitute the main methods recommended in the β-thalassemia treatment guidelines. However, there are multiple barriers and limitations to the application of these approaches, and there is an urgent need to explore new therapeutic approaches. With the in-depth study of the pathophysiological process of β-thalassemia, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease has been gained. It has been demonstrated that the pathogenesis of thalassemia is closely related to ineffective erythropoiesis (IE), imbalance in the ratio of α/β-globin protein chains and iron overload. New therapeutic approaches are emerging for different pathogenic mechanisms. Among them, new drugs for the treatment of IE mainly include activin receptor II trap ligands, Janus kinase 2 inhibitors, pyruvate kinase activators, and glycine transporter protein 1 inhibitors. Correcting the imbalance in the hemoglobin chain is mainly due to emerging technologies such as bone marrow transplantation and gene editing. Measures in reducing iron overload are associated with inhibiting the activity of transferrin and hepcidin. These new approaches provide new ideas and options for the treatment and management of β-thalassemia.

Key words: β-thalassemia; globin chain imbalance; iron overload; ineffective erythropoiesis

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 刘静　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2024.0037

Citing This Article：

GUO Xian-Feng, HAN Lu, ZHANG Xu-Chao, ZHANG Hai-Hang, LIU Jing. Overview of new approaches to β-thalassemia treatment. Acta Physiol Sin 2024; 76 (3): 496-506 (in Chinese with English abstract).