Aetiology of extrahepatic epithelial iron deposits in siderosis in Bantu

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Twenty-seven specimens of human tissue, obtained by operation, were tested to evaluate the theory that iron uptake by tissues from serum is greater when transferrin is nearly completely saturated than when the degree of saturation is normal.Samples of each tissue were incubated in autologous serum so prepared that in one instance the transferrin was 50 % saturated and in the second 90 % saturated with iron containing 59Fe.In all samples the uptake of iron was greater from the transferrin which was 90 % saturated. The uptake by tissues of epithelial origin was significantly greater than that by non-epithelial tissues. Considerable variation in uptake was noted between samples of the same tissue from different individuals. The role of iron stores in the tissue and folic acid deficiency are discussed.It is concluded that the degree of transferrin saturation is important in determining iron uptake by tissues, especially in those of epithelial origin, and that such uptake may be modified by tissue stores and folic acid deficiency.It is felt that these factors are probably responsible for the extrahepatic parenchymal deposits of iron sometimes found in Bantu subjects with siderosis.

The significance of folic acid, tissue iron stores, and tissue viability in determining iron uptake from serum by thyroid tissue slices

“…The results of this investigation confirm those already demonstrated that high percentage saturation of transferrin by iron is in some measure responsible for uptake of this element by thyroid tissue (Buchanan, 1969). While high degrees of transferrin saturation increase uptake in most cases it is clear that some uptake also occurs from transferrin only 50% saturated.…”

“…Thyroid was used in this investigation because of its ready availability and because it is known to take up 328 iron well (Buchanan, 1969). In all cases partial thyroidectomy had been performed for colloid goitre.…”

“…The serum was prepared by pipetting 8 ml aliquots into polythene tubes in pairs. The procedure followed then was exactly as described in the previous paper (Buchanan, 1969), that is, solutions containing 59Fe were added to the sera to produce 50% saturation of the transferrin in one tube and 90 % saturation in the second.…”

“…It has been shown that when various samples of human tissue obtained at operation are incubated in autologous serum the iron uptake is partly dependent on the degree of transferrin saturation (Buchanan, 1969). It was found that the uptake of iron by all the tissues examined was greater from sera whose transferrin was 90 % saturated than from that in which the transferrin was only 50% saturated.…”

Low Dose-Ethanol Modulates Toxic Effect of Iron-Overloading in the Liver

“…The high levels of iron present in this beverage were caused by the preparation of the beer in iron kettles . Recently, a genetic defect relating to this condition has also been discussed (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6).…”