title: Utilization of red-cell FAD by methaemoglobin reductases at the expense of glutathione reductase in heterozygous beta-thalassaemia.
abstract: FAD-dependent methaemoglobin reductases (MHR) were studied in red cells in heterozygous beta-thalassaemia to investigate how they related to low FAD-dependent glutathione reductase (GR). In contrast to GR, MHR activities were usually normal or increased. In particular, whether expressed in relation to haemoglobin or number of red cells, NADPH-MHR activity was markedly increased in most subjects, probably being a response to increased oxidative stress. Oral riboflavin had no effect on MHR activities, indicating saturation with FAD even though GR was deficient. A strong correlation between percent stimulation of GR by FAD and NADPH-MHR activity indicates that FAD is utilized by MHR at the expense of GR. This could be an important influence on GR in heterozygous beta-thalassaemia. Thus, the low activity resulting from an inherited deficiency of FAD is decreased further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D042966:Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005182:Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / Q000097:blood*; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D012016:Reference Values; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005182:Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; D042966:Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D012256:Riboflavin