Evaluating the effect of DMSO concentrations on -globin expression in Hu11 cells

Understanding of the mechanisms involved in γ- to β-globin switching may be important for development of treatment options for b-thalassemia. Such studies require the availability of relevant cellular model systems. One such cell type is Hu11, a mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cell line containing the human b-locus. MEL and Hu11 cells differentiate in the presence of the chemical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Nevertheless, levels of γ-globin induction in Hu11 cells after DMSO treatment have not been determined. In the present study, we determined γ-globin levels in Hu11 cells after treatment with various DMSO concentrations. Hu11 cells were cultivated in various DMSO concentrations and the levels of γ-globin were determined by real-time PCR. Our study showed that hemoglobin in Hu11 cells treated with 1% and 2% DMSO was increased by approximately 5 and 10 folds. Moreover real-time PCR results showed that g-globin levels using the indicated DMSO levels were increased by 66 and 298 folds, respectively. Hu11 cells differentiate in the presence of DMSO, and in doing so, their γ-globin levels are increased. Therefore these cells can be used to study the mechanisms of γ-globin induction. Such studies may be beneficial for the treatment of β-thalassemia.