Figure 1.

Effects of minihepcidins in non-transfusion-dependent and transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia mouse models. Treatment with minihepcidins has similar beneficial effects in both the non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia mouse model (Hbb^th3/+) and in the novel transfusion-dependent model (Hbb^th1/th2BMC) developed by Casu et al. In particular, in the transfused mice, minihepcidins improved ineffective erythropoiesis and splenomegaly, and reduced the severity of parenchymal iron overload. ERFE: erythroferrone; HEPC: hepcidin; NTDT: non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia; RBC: red blood cells; BMC: bone marrow chimera; TDT: transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia; Hb: hemoglobin; Ret: reticulocytes; ROS: reactive oxygen species.