Up-regulation of transferrin receptor 1 in chronic hepatitis C: Implication in excess hepatic iron accumulation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

: To clarify the mechanism of excess hepatic iron accumulation in chronic hepatitis C, we investigated the expressions of transferrin receptor 1 and divalent metal transporter 1 in hepatocytes, both of which are involved in cellular iron uptake, in relation to the degree of hepatic iron accumulation and hepatic fibrosis by immunohistochemistrical study.

METHODS:

: Forty-six hepatic tissues with chronic hepatitis C and five normal hepatic tissues were examined. Chemical detection of hepatic iron accumulation was performed by Perl's Prussian blue stain. The immunohistochemistrical study was performed by avidin-biotin complex method with alkaline phosphatase.

RESULTS:

: In chronic hepatitis C: (1) Hepatic iron accumulation was significantly increased in relation to the advance of the fibrosis. (2) Divalent metal transporter 1 decreased significantly in relation to the advance of hepatic fibrosis. (3) Transferrin receptor 1 expression was always detected, although not in normal hepatic tissues; there was no relation between expression levels and the degree of hepatic fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS:

: These data demonstrated that the transferrin receptor 1 expression was up-regulated irrespective of the degree of hepatic iron accumulation, suggesting that the up-regulation of transferrin receptor 1 might act as one of the key mechanisms implicated in the accumulation of hepatic iron in chronic hepatitis C.

• Authors: Hiroyuki Saito, Yoshinori Fujimoto, Takaaki Ohtake, Yasuaki Suzuki, Shinobu Sakurai, Yayoi Hosoki, Katsuya Ikuta, Yoshihiro Torimoto, Yutaka Kohgo
• Journal: Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology (Hepatol Res) Vol. 31 Issue 4 Pg. 203-10 (Apr 2005) ISSN: 1386-6346 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16890168 (Publication Type: Journal Article)