Elevated non-transferrin bound iron in the lungs of patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present work was to determine the concentrations of iron and iron-binding proteins in the lungs of patients suffering from Pneumocystis carinii (PCP), which is crucial for justifying the treatment with iron-chelating agents in this disease.


METHODS
Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 10 HIV patients with PCP and five healthy controls. Total iron and iron-binding proteins (transferrin, ferritin and lactoferrin) were measured in acellular bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in both groups. Iron was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry; transferrin and lactoferrin were measured using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); and ferritin concentration was quantified by automated immunonephelometry.


RESULTS
Our findings in patients with PCP demonstrated a six- to seven-fold increase of total iron levels and an eight-fold increase of ferritin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid when compared with controls. No significant differences were found in transferrin or lactoferrin levels. Moreover, our results suggest that this iron is non-transferrin bound.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-transferrin bound iron is increased in the lower respiratory tracts of PCP patients. This finding would lend experiment support to the use of iron-chelating agents in this disease.
Mateos
F
F
Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca.
González
C
C
Dominguez
C
C
Losa
J E
JE
Jimenez
A
A
Pérez-Arellano
J L
JL
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin