Duodenal expression of NF-E2 in mouse models of altered iron metabolism.
This study investigated the relationship between duodenal mucosal mRNA levels of the transcription factor, NF-E2, H-ferritin (a putative NF-E2 regulated gene) and iron absorption in mice. CD1-strain mice with normal and altered iron metabolism (hypoxic, iron-deficient, iron-loaded) and animals with genetic defects of iron metabolism (hypotransferrinaemia, beta-thalassaemia) were studied. Tissue RNA from these mouse models was subjected to reverse transcription and PCR amplification for NF-E2 and a stable ribosomal protein (S14) and the products analysed with an automated laser fluorescent sequencer. Duodenal NF-E2 mRNA levels were generally low and decreased in the hypoxic and iron-deficient groups, both of which exhibited elevated iron absorption as compared to controls. A modest increase in the NF-E2 mRNA level was seen in the iron-loaded mice, whose iron absorption was decreased. In contrast, both the genetic strains showed elevated NF-E2 mRNA levels in conjunction with raised iron absorption values. Only the iron-deficient group exhibited an alteration in the duodenal mucosal H/L ferritin ratio. Hence, no relationship was evident between the NF-E2 mRNA levels and the H/L ferritin ratio. These data indicate that NF-E2 is not the primary regulator of intestinal iron absorption.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.
K B
KB
Raja
B
B
Gerard
A T
AT
McKie
R J
RJ
Simpson
T J
TJ
Peters
B
B
Grandchamp
C
C
Beaumont
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000378:metabolism*; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D005293:Ferritins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050983:NF-E2 Transcription Factor; D050984:NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D050983:NF-E2 Transcription Factor; D050984:NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit; C494693:Nfe2 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron