Stem cell transplantation demonstrates that Sox6 represses εy globin expression in definitive erythropoiesis of adult mice

Sox6, a member of the Sox transcription factor family, is essential for the silencing of εy globin gene expression in definitive erythropoiesis of mice. Homozygous Sox6-null mice are neonatally lethal, precluding analysis at later stages. We created adult mice that are deficient in Sox6 specifically in hematopoietic tissues by transplanting embryonic liver stem cells from Sox6-deficient mice into lethally irradiated congenic wild-type adult mice. The mice receiving mutant stem cells (mutant engrafted) showed high expression levels of εy in bone marrow, spleen, and circulating blood compared with mice receiving wild-type and heterozygous stem cells (control engrafted). The level of expression of εy in circulating blood was directly correlated with the percentage of successful mutant donor cell engraftment. Additionally, the mutant engrafted adult mice showed an increase in erythroid precursor cells in bone marrow, spleen, and blood. Thus, Sox6 continues to function as a major regulator of εy in adult definitive erythropoiesis and is required for normal erythrocyte maturation. Therefore, Sox6 may provide a novel therapeutic target by reactivating εy in patients with hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia.