Association between Duffy Antigen Receptors for Chemokines (DARC) and Disease Severity in Omani Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Patients

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin. The disease is associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations, including vaso-occlusive crises, organ damage, and varying levels of disease severity. The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) has been implicated in modulating inflammatory responses, cell adhesion, and the severity of several diseases. This project aims to investigate the association between DARC expression and disease severity in Omani SCD patients. By analyzing the clinical data, phenotype, genotype, interaction of DARC with activated white blood cells and of a cohort of Omani SCD patients. This study aims to shed light on the potential role of DARC in the pathophysiology, disease severity of SCD and establish its relevance in the Omani population.