FOXO3 gene expression associated with Oxidative Stress in β-thalassemia Iraqi patients

The FOXO3 transcription factor plays a crucial role in regulating oxidative stress and promoting the growth of erythroid cells during the process of erythropoiesis. The case – control study aims to investigate the correlation between iron overload and the expression of the FOXO3 gene along with the blood concentrations of malondialdehyde protein, a pivotal marker of oxidative stress among individuals diagnosed with beta-thalassemia in Iraq. The present study was carried out using two distinct groups. The beta-thalassemia group consisted of a total of fifty individuals, with 35 being female and 15 being male, age from14 to 40 years. and the control group consisted of fifty individuals, comprising of 37 females and 13 males. During the period from May 2022 to November 2023. Specifically, the recruitment efforts focused on individuals associated with the Ibn Albaladi General Hospital/Thalassemia Centre. All information regarding age, sex, duration of blood transfusion was collected in a specific questionnaire form. The concentration of MDA was quantified using a spectrophotometer while the expression of mRNA was evaluated through a real-time PCR technique. The study involved the assessment of FOXO3 gene expression. In both study groups, the Ct levels of the beta-thalassemia patient group were found to be 22.97±22.86 while the control group exhibited Ct values of 7.63±13.38. The 2-ΔΔCt values for the patient group with beta-thalassemia and the control group were 22.97 and 7.63 respectively. A statistically significant alteration in gene expression was observed between the two groups, with a p-value of less than or equal to 0.05. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) demonstrated statistical significance (P≤0.05). The findings of this study indicate that individuals with β-thalassemia exhibit a notable downregulation of the FOXO3 gene compared to control individual. Moreover, individuals with β-thalassemia exhibit significantly higher levels of oxidative stress and malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison to the control group.