title: Iron accumulation in human spleen in autoimmune thrombocytopenia and hereditary spherocytosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the iron is an essential element for the physiological functions of cells, tissues and organs, it is also an important inductor of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups of human spleen with autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP), hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and reference samples stained by haematoxylin and eosin, Perls' reaction for nonheme Fe(III) iron and Alcian blue for glycoconjugates detection were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive Perls' reaction in both AITP and HS groups was seen. Higher positivity in the HS than in AITP group was observed. HS group showed a higher amount of acidic glycoconjugates deposits than AITP group. Iron overload in HS and AITP leads to overproduction of ROS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that acidic glycoconjugates deposits are involved in antioxidant defence by elimination and restriction of iron as a ROS inducer (Fig. 4, Ref. 19).
authors.affiliation: Histopatologia Ltd., Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopaniova
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zitnanova
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El-Hassoun
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minoo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kolenova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sisovsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caplovicova
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stvrtina
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galfiova
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakubovsky
mesh_terms: D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013103:Spherocytosis, Hereditary / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species