We investigated the capability of ASP8731 to increase antioxidant and anti-inflammatory gene expression in cell culture, decrease microvascular stasis (vaso-occlusion) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, and induce gamma globin and F-cells in a preclinical murine model of SCD and human CD34 cells during erythroid differentiation. This evidence concerns the gene HBG2 and Schnyder corneal dystrophy.