Metabolic and Proteomic Divergence Is Present in Circulating Monocytes and Tissue-Resident Macrophages from Berkeley Sickle Cell Anemia and beta-Thalassemia Mice

Sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia represent hemoglobinopathies arising from dysfunctional or underproduced beta-globin chains, respectively. In both diseases, red blood cell injury and anemia are the impetus for end organ injury. Because persistent erythrophagocytosis is a hallmark of these genetic maladies, it is critical to understand how macrophage phenotype polarizations in tissue compartments can inform on disease progression. Murine models of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia allow for a basic understanding of the mechanisms and provide for translation to human disease. A multi-omics approach to understanding the macrophage metabolism and protein changes in two murine models of beta-globinopathy was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as spleen and liver macrophages isolated from Berkley sickle cell disease (Berk-ss) and heterozygous B1/B2 globin gene deletion (Hbb(th3/+)) mice. The results from these experiments revealed that the metabolome and proteome of macrophages are polarized to a distinct phenotype in Berk-ss and Hbb(th3/+) compared with each other and their common-background mice (C57BL6/J). Further, spleen and liver macrophages revealed distinct disease-specific phenotypes, suggesting that macrophages become differentially polarized and reprogrammed within tissue compartments. We conclude that tissue recruitment, polarization, and metabolic and proteomic reprogramming of macrophages in Berk-ss and Hbb(th3/+) mice may be relevant to disease progression in other tissue.

Automated summary

Sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia are hemoglobinopathies caused by dysfunctional or underproduced beta-globin chains. The polarization and reprogramming of macrophages in tissue compartments may be relevant to disease progression. Mouse models of beta-globinopathy provide insights into the mechanisms and translation to human disease. A multi-omics approach was used to study macrophage metabolism and protein changes in two murine models, revealing distinct phenotypes and disease-specific reprogramming in different tissue compartments.