Alteration of HSC Functions in Thalassemia

Abstract Beta-thalassemia represents one of the most globally widespread monogenic disorders and is characterized by significantly reduced or absent synthesis of hemoglobin beta-chains. In its severe form the insufficient production of adult hemoglobin results in altered erythropoiesis, hemolytic anemia, bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic hyperplasia and splenomegaly often associated with extramedullary hematopoiesis, requiring regular blood transfusions and iron chelation treatment. Over the last two decades many progresses were made in the field of allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation to definitively cure beta-thalassemia. In parallel, experimental autologous transplantation protocols …