title: Expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron during cellular immune activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The expression of the two types of ferritin subunits, the H-subunit and L-subunit, has been shown to be differentially regulated by cytokines. The primary aim of the present study was to quantitatively measure the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron was quantitatively evaluated by post-embedding immunolocalisation with immunogold transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study showed up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in patients with pronounced cellular immune activation (94.7±37.3 counts/μm(2); n=31 vs 72.4±34.0 counts/μm(2); n=13, p-value=0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This supports a possible role for H-subunit rich ferritins in the hypoferraemia of chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Koorts
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Levay
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viljoen
mesh_terms: D001052:Apoferritins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019798:Neopterin / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D019798:Neopterin; D001052:Apoferritins