Expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron during cellular immune activation.

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). CONCLUSION This supports a possible role for H-subunit rich ferritins in the hypoferraemia of chronic disease.