Serum ferritin as a predictor of host response to hepatitis B virus infection.
With hemodialysis patients, a high serum ferritin before there was serological evidence of hepatitis B virus infection increased the likelihood that the infection would be persistent. This finding suggested that hepatitis B virus is likely to infect and actively replicate in liver cells with the propensity for increased ferritin synthesis. The virus itself could stimulate the synthesis of ferritin in a cyclic positive feedback mechanism that increases intracellular ferritin concentration and, eventually, intracellular iron. Transformed liver cells have low iron content, do not replicate hepatitis B virus, and require iron for growth. Infected, nonmalignant liver cells could supply iron to the transformed cells and nourish their expansion.
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron