Biomaterial Database

Therapies to increase fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease. 2003

Martin H Steinberg

Boston University School of Medicine, Room E211, 88 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. msteinberg@medicine.bu.edu

The pathophysiology of sickle cell disease originates in the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inhibits this process, and high HbF concentrations reduce the severity of the disease. Drugs with presumed mechanisms of action that perturb the orderly maturation of erythroid precursor cells, induce hypomethylation of HbF genes, bind transcriptionally active elements of these genes, or influence chromatin structure can enhance HbF production in sickle cell disease. Hydroxyurea, a drug that affects erythroid maturation and regeneration, reduces morbidity and mortality in adults with sickle cell anemia. Its use in young children and in combination with other classes of HbF-inducing agents is being studied.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002087	Butyrates	Derivatives of BUTYRIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxypropane structure.	Butyrate,n-Butyrate,Butanoic Acids,Butyric Acids,Acids, Butanoic,Acids, Butyric,n Butyrate
D004359	Drug Therapy, Combination	Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect.	Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005319	Fetal Hemoglobin	The major component of hemoglobin in the fetus. This HEMOGLOBIN has two alpha and two gamma polypeptide subunits in comparison to normal adult hemoglobin, which has two alpha and two beta polypeptide subunits. Fetal hemoglobin concentrations can be elevated (usually above 0.5%) in children and adults affected by LEUKEMIA and several types of ANEMIA.	Hemoglobin F,Hemoglobin, Fetal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006918	Hydroxyurea	An antineoplastic agent that inhibits DNA synthesis through the inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase.	Hydroxycarbamid,Hydrea,Oncocarbide
D000077209	Decitabine	An azacitidine derivative and antineoplastic antimetabolite. It inhibits DNA methyltransferase to re-activate silent genes, limiting METASTASIS and NEOPLASM DRUG RESISTANCE. Decitabine is used in the treatment of MYELODISPLASTIC SYNDROMES, and ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA.	2'-Deoxy-5-azacytidine,5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine,5-AzadC,5-Azadeoxycytidine,5-Deoxyazacytidine,5AzadC,AzadC Compound,Dacogen,Decitabine Mesylate,NSC 127716,NSC-127716,2' Deoxy 5 azacytidine,5 Aza 2' deoxycytidine,5 Azadeoxycytidine,5 Deoxyazacytidine,Compound, AzadC,Mesylate, Decitabine,NSC127716
D000755	Anemia, Sickle Cell	A disease characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, episodic painful crises, and pathologic involvement of many organs. It is the clinical expression of homozygosity for hemoglobin S.	Hemoglobin S Disease,HbS Disease,Sickle Cell Anemia,Sickle Cell Disease,Sickle Cell Disorders,Sickling Disorder Due to Hemoglobin S,Anemias, Sickle Cell,Cell Disease, Sickle,Cell Diseases, Sickle,Cell Disorder, Sickle,Cell Disorders, Sickle,Disease, Hemoglobin S,Hemoglobin S Diseases,Sickle Cell Anemias,Sickle Cell Diseases,Sickle Cell Disorder
D001374	Azacitidine	A pyrimidine analogue that inhibits DNA methyltransferase, impairing DNA methylation. It is also an antimetabolite of cytidine, incorporated primarily into RNA. Azacytidine has been used as an antineoplastic agent.	Azacytidine,5-Azacytidine,NSC-102816,Vidaza,5 Azacytidine,NSC 102816,NSC102816
D016207	Cytokines	Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.	Cytokine