Whole Blood Transcriptomic Analysis of Sickle Cell Trait

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Sickle cell trait (SCT) is the heterozygous carrier state for the HBB missense variant which causes sickle cell disease (SCD). SCT has been associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism and chronic kidney disease as well as alterations in clinical laboratory parameters. To investigate differential gene expression in SCT, we used RNA sequencing of whole blood samples collected from 805 African American female participants (143 SCT; 660 controls) from the Women's Health Initiative Long Life Study (mean age = 76). We identified 226 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SCT compared to non-carriers (FDR < 0.05). Enriched pathways included those related to erythropoiesis, hemoglobin synthesis, and proteasomal degradation. Many of the SCT-associated DEGs were previously reported as differentially expressed in blood from individuals with SCD. Among the DEGs associated with SCT, we observed enrichment of upregulated ubiquitin-related genes normally downregulated during the later stages of erythroid differentiation, a pattern previously reported in SCD. Several of the SCT-associated DEGs highlight mechanisms that potentially link hemolysis or erythropoiesis to hypoxic kidney tubular injury. Future investigation of these genes using single cell transcriptomic analysis in relevant tissues may be useful in understanding mechanisms for adverse health outcomes in individuals with SCT.

Source: European Journal Of Haematology

DOI: 10.1111/ejh.70114

Authors: Mari Johnson, Yanwei Cai, Ana Gabriela Vasconcelos, Peter Orchard, Paul L. Auer, Guillaume Lettre, Jia Wen, Nora Franceschini, Charles Kooperberg, Wei Sun, Li Hsu, Laura M. Raffield, Alex P. Reiner

Institutions: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, University of Washington, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Montreal Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,650

Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Women's Health Initiative, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Broad Institute, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

OpenAlex ID: W7123664320