Expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron during cellular immune activation

• Published in: Blood cells, molecules, & diseases molecules, & diseases, 2011-06, Vol.47 (1), p.50-55
• Main Authors: Koorts, A.M., Levay, P.F., Hall, A.N., van der Merwe, C.F., Becker, P.J., Viljoen, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoferritins - genetics; Apoferritins - immunology; Apoferritins - metabolism; Bone Marrow - immunology; Bone Marrow - metabolism; Cellular immune activation; Cytokines - metabolism; Erythroid Precursor Cells - metabolism; Ferritin; Gene Expression Regulation; H-subunit; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - genetics; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Iron; Isoferritins; L-subunit; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Macrophages - ultrastructure; Neopterin - metabolism; Up-Regulation - genetics
• ISSN: 1079-9796; 1096-0961
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2011.04.006

The expression of the two types of ferritin subunits, the H-subunit and L-subunit, has been shown to be differentially regulated by cytokines. The primary aim of the present study was to quantitatively measure the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation. The expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron was quantitatively evaluated by post-embedding immunolocalisation with immunogold transmission electron microscopy. The present study showed up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in patients with pronounced cellular immune activation (94.7 ± 37.3 counts/μm 2; n = 31 vs 72.4 ± 34.0 counts/μm 2; n = 13, p-value = 0.037). This supports a possible role for H-subunit rich ferritins in the hypoferraemia of chronic disease.