title: Expression of iron-related proteins in the duodenum is up-regulated in patients with chronic inflammatory disorders.
abstract: Mechanisms responsible for derangements in Fe homeostasis in chronic inflammatory conditions are not entirely clear. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that inflammation affects the expression of Fe-related proteins in the duodenum and monocytes of patients with chronic inflammatory disorders, thus contributing to dysregulated Fe homeostasis. Duodenal mucosal samples and peripheral blood monocytes obtained from patients with chronic inflammatory disorders, namely ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) and rheumatoid arthritis, were used for gene and protein expression studies. Hb levels were significantly lower and serum C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients in the disease groups. The gene expression of several Fe-related proteins in the duodenum was significantly up-regulated in patients with UC and CD. In patients with UC, the protein expression of divalent metal transporter 1 and ferroportin, which are involved in the absorption of dietary non-haem Fe, was also found to be significantly higher in the duodenal mucosa. The gene expression of the duodenal proteins of interest correlated positively with one another and negatively with Hb. In patients with UC, the gene expression of Fe-related proteins in monocytes was found to be unaffected. In a separate group of patients with UC, serum hepcidin levels were found to be significantly lower than those in the control group. In conclusion, the expression of Fe-related proteins was up-regulated in the duodenum of patients with chronic inflammatory conditions in the present study. The effects appeared to be secondary to anaemia and the consequent erythropoietic drive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Abitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukumaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Jithu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Harish Palleti
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Janardhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amaladas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Lekshmy Madathilazhikathu
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004, India.
authors.forename: Debashish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Visalakshi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jeyeseelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004, India.
authors.forename: Balakrishnan Siddharth
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632002, India.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D004386:Duodenum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D064451:Hepcidins; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron