Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency suppresses erythropoiesis by disrupting expression of heme biosynthetic enzymes and transporter

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Sep 24;10(10):708. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1951-0.

Abstract

The reduced iron usage induced by the suppression of erythropoiesis is a major cause of the systemic iron overload in CBS knockout (CBS-/-) mice. However, the relevant mechanisms are unknown. Here, we examined changes in granulocyte/erythroid cell ratios, iron content, and expression of iron-metabolism proteins, including; two key enzymes involved in the heme biosynthetic pathway, ALAS2 (delta-aminolevulinate synthase 2) and FECH (ferrochelatase), a heme exporter from the cytosol and mitochondria, FLVCR (feline leukemia virus subgroup C cellular receptor) as well as EPO (erythropoietin), EPOR (erythropoietin receptor) and HIF-2α (hypoxia inducible factor-2 subunit α), in the blood, bone marrow or liver of CBS-/- (homozygous), CBS+/- (heterozygous) and CBS+/+ (Wild Type) mice. Our findings demonstrate that CBS deficiency can induce a significant reduction in the expression of ALAS2, FECH, FLVCR, HIF-2α, EPO, and EPOR as well as an increase in interleukin-6 (IL-6), hepcidin and iron content in the blood, bone marrow or liver of mice. We conclude that the suppression of erythropoiesis is mainly due to the CBS deficiency-induced disruption in the expression of heme biosynthetic enzymes and heme-transporter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cystathionine beta-Synthase / deficiency*
  • Cystathionine beta-Synthase / metabolism
  • Erythropoiesis
  • Heme / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice

Substances

  • Heme
  • Cystathionine beta-Synthase