Beta‐globin mRNA increases rapidly during erythropoietin treatment

Abstract

Recombinant human erythropoietin (r‐HuEpo) has an important role in the treatment of anaemic patients. Because of the high cost of r‐HuEpo treatment, an early indicator of whether a patient is responding to the therapy would be valuable. Although measurement of gene expression is a promising new tool, it has not yet been established in clinical practice. The response pattern of a possible new marker, β‐globin mRNA, is compared with reticulocyte count, levels of haemoglobin, transferrin receptor and ferritin after r‐HuEpo treatment. Eight healthy volunteers were stimulated with erythropoietin three times a week for four weeks and compared with five untreated control subjects. Blood samples were collected before each erythropoietin injection. Quantitative measurement of β‐globin mRNA was performed by poly(A) selection onto a manifold plastic support, coated with oligo(dT). The mRNA was reverse transcribed, followed by quantitative analysis using PCR via the 5′ nuclease assay. The individuals treated with rHuEpo showed a more distinct increase in β‐globin mRNA levels than all other laboratory measurements. β‐globin mRNA levels are therefore promising as a marker for the response to treatment with Epo.

• Anaemia
• gene expression
• RT‐PCR
• treatment marker