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A specific G9a inhibitor unveils BGLT3 lncRNA as a universal mediator of chemically induced fetal globin gene expression.

Shohei TakaseTakashi HiroyamaFumiyuki ShiraiYuki MaemotoAkiko NakataMayumi ArataSeiji MatsuokaTakeshi SonodaHideaki NiwaShin SatoTakashi UmeharaMikako ShirouzuYosuke NishigayaTatsunobu SumiyaNoriaki HashimotoRyosuke NamieMasaya UsuiTomokazu OhishiShun-Ichi OhbaManabu KawadaYoshihiro HayashiHironori HaradaTokio YamaguchiYoichi ShinkaiYukio NakamuraMinoru YoshidaAkihiro Ito
Published in: Nature communications (2023)
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a heritable disorder caused by β-globin gene mutations. Induction of fetal γ-globin is an established therapeutic strategy. Recently, epigenetic modulators, including G9a inhibitors, have been proposed as therapeutic agents. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby these small molecules reactivate γ-globin remain unclear. Here we report the development of a highly selective and non-genotoxic G9a inhibitor, RK-701. RK-701 treatment induces fetal globin expression both in human erythroid cells and in mice. Using RK-701, we find that BGLT3 long non-coding RNA plays an essential role in γ-globin induction. RK-701 selectively upregulates BGLT3 by inhibiting the recruitment of two major γ-globin repressors in complex with G9a onto the BGLT3 gene locus through CHD4, a component of the NuRD complex. Remarkably, BGLT3 is indispensable for γ-globin induction by not only RK-701 but also hydroxyurea and other inducers. The universal role of BGLT3 in γ-globin induction suggests its importance in SCD treatment.
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