title: Release of iron from haemoglobin--a possible source of free radicals in diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Increased blood glucose in diabetes mellitus stimulates nonenzymatic glycosylation of several proteins, including haemoglobin. Although iron is tightly bound to haemoglobin, it is liberated under specific circumstances yielding free reactive iron. Studies with purified haemoglobin from normal individuals and diabetic patients revealed that concentration of free iron was significantly higher in the latter cases and increased progressively with extent of the disease. In vitro glycosylation of haemoglobin also led to increase in release of iron from protein. This increase in free iron, acting as a Fenton reagent, might produce free radicals, which, in turn might be causing oxidative stress in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, NRS Medical College & Hospital, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chakraborti
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron