An age-related homeostasis mechanism is essential for spontaneous amelioration of hemophilia B Leyden

Abstract

Regulation of age-related changes in gene expression underlies many diseases. We previously discovered the first puberty-onset gene switch, the age-related stability element (ASE)/age-related increase element (AIE)-mediated genetic mechanism for age-related gene regulation. Here, we report that this mechanism underlies the mysterious puberty-onset amelioration of abnormal bleeding seen in hemophilia B Leyden. Transgenic mice robustly mimicking the Leyden phenotype were constructed. Analysis of these animals indicated that ASE plays a central role in the puberty-onset amelioration of the disease. Human factor IX expression in these animals was reproducibly nullified by hypophysectomy, but nearly fully restored by administration of growth hormone, being consistent with the observed sex-independent recovery of factor IX expression. Ets1 was identified as the specific liver nuclear protein binding only to the functional ASE, G/CAGGAAG, and not to other Ets consensus elements. This study demonstrates the clinical relevance of the first discovered puberty-onset gene switch, the ASE/AIE-mediated regulatory mechanism.