title: Serum transferrin receptors are decreased in the presence of iron overload.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that the quantities of circulating transferrin receptors are reduced in iron overload, we studied serum transferrin receptors and indirect measures of iron status in 150 subjects from rural Zimbabwe. We found significant inverse correlations between serum concentrations of transferrin receptors and ferritin, the ratio of ferritin to aspartate aminotransferase, and transferrin saturation (r > or = 0.44; P < 0.001). The mean +/- SD concentration of serum transferrin receptors in 23 subjects classified as having iron overload (ferritin > 300 microg/L and transferrin saturation > 60%) was 1.55 +/- 0.61 mg/L, significantly lower than the 2.50 +/- 0.62 mg/L in 75 subjects with normal iron stores (ferritin 20-300 microg/L and transferrin saturation 15-55%; P < 0.0005) and the 2.83 +/- 1.14 mg/L in 8 subjects with iron deficiency (ferritin < 20 microg/L; P = 0.001). In keeping with the regulation of transferrin receptor expression at the cellular level, our findings suggest that serum transferrin receptors are decreased in the presence of iron overload.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khumalo
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Gomo
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Moyo
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Gordeuk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saungweme
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rouault
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Gangaidzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001515:Beer / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases