Abstract #2534

MRI characterisation of iron overload in a humanised mouse model of β-thalassemia major

Laurence H Jackson¹, Evangelia Vlachodimitropoulou Koumoutsea², Panicos Shangaris³, Thomas M Ryan⁴, Anna L David³, John Porter², Daniel J Stuckey¹, and Mark F Lythgoe¹

¹Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ²Dept. Haematology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ³Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁴Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States

β-thalassemia major is a common blood disorder causing the production of abnormal red blood cells (RBCs) leading to severe anaemia. Current treatment of the disease consists of regular blood transfusions with the side effect of iron overload. Due to difficulties in producing a representative animal model of the disease, research into experimental therapy has been limited. A recently developed humanised mouse model of thalassemia has the potential to provide a platform for the development of new treatments. Here we determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess and quantify biomarkers of disease in-vivo.

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