Upregulation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, NGAL/Lcn2, in beta-thalassemia patients.
BACKGROUND
One of the major consequences in beta- thalassemia is iron overload. Oxidative statuses have been reported in beta-thalassemia patients by several studies. It has been proven that iron plays a critical role in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). More recently, we have found the induction of Lcn2/NGAL expression under oxidative stress condition. In this study, it was assumed that NGAL should be upregulated in beta-thalassemia patients because of oxidative stress condition.


METHODS
Assessment of NGAL expressions in 25 adult beta-thalassemia and 9 pediatric patients was performed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR and ELISA.


RESULTS
Adult beta-thalassemia patients upregulated NGAL expression compared with the normal samples but no upregulation was observed in pediatric patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Upregulation may play an important role in decreasing ROS or iron in beta-thalassemia patients.
Roudkenar
Mehryar Habibi
MH
Reserch Center, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran. Roudkenar@ibto.ir
Halabian
Raheleh
R
Oodi
Arezo
A
Roushandeh
Amaneh Mohammadi
AM
Yaghmai
Parichehr
P
Najar
Mohamad Reza
MR
Amirizadeh
Nasser
N
Shokrgozar
Mohammad Ali
MA
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000378:metabolism; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D005293:Ferritins