title: Limited protection against iron-induced lipid peroxidation by cord blood plasma.
abstract: The ability of plasma from newborn babies (cord blood) and adults to inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation was compared. The caeruloplasmin and transferrin concentrations, and latent iron-binding capacity were lower in the babies (p less than 0.001). The plasma of many of the babies had no latent iron-binding capacity and contained non-protein-bound iron (measured by the bleomycin assay). The in vitro ability of plasma to inhibit iron-induced liposome peroxidation by either ferroxidase antioxidant activity (caeruloplasmin) or iron-binding antioxidant activity (transferrin) was measured. The antioxidant activity in both assays was decreased in the babies (p less than 0.001). The percentage inhibition of peroxidation in the iron-binding antioxidant assay correlated positively with the latent iron-binding capacity (p less than 0.001) and negatively with the presence of bleomycin-detectable iron (p less than 0.02) in the babies. This assay produced stimulation of peroxidation in 42% of the babies but none of the adults. The diminished capacity of cord blood plasma to prevent iron-induced lipid peroxidation may predispose the newborn baby to the toxic effects of oxygen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lindeman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Houdkamp
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lentjes
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Poorthuis
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin