Tag Archives: ferritin

Novel biochemical markers for the prediction of renal injury in beta-thalassemia major pediatric patients

A. J. Shwayel1*, A. M. Jewad1, M. Q. Abdulsattar2

1Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Health and Medical Technical College,
Southern Technical University, Basrah, Iraq;
2Thi-Qar Health Directorate, Iraq;
*е-mail: ameeralzaidy6@gmail.com

Received: 07 June 2023; Revised: 14 August 2023;
Accepted: 27 October 2023; Available on-line: 06 November 2023

Beta-thalassemia major is a severe inherited disorder characterized by inadequate production of hemoglobin beta chains, ineffective erythropoiesis, chronic hemolysis and necessitates lifelong transfusions, which lead to iron overload. The disease manifests itself in early childhood and persists throughout an individual’s life with a high risk of developing renal impairment, which cannot be reliably determined using routine markers. The objective of this research was to apply biomarkers to the evaluation of renal injury in pediatric­ patients within the age range of 1–14 years diagnosed with beta-thalassemia major. In the case-control study, the blood samples obtained in the Genetic Hematology Center in Thi-Qar Iraq Province were used: 60 samples from healthy individuals and 60 samples from the patients with beta-thalassemia, subdivided into 1-7 and 8-14 years old groups. The levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, creatinine and potassium were estimated with standard tests, enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to determine the level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and beta-2-microglobulin (β2M) as novel markers of tubular and glomerular dysfunctions. The study revealed a statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin, serum potassium levels and an increase in ferritin, NGAL and β2M levels in the patients from both groups compared to controls and elevation of creatinine level in the 8–14-year-old group. It was concluded that NGAL and β2M levels may be considered indicators for the early diagnosis of renal injury in pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia, as these biomarkers exhibit elevated levels before an increase in creatinine is observed.

Assessing the relationship between organ function test results and COVID-19 severity

A. K. Yadav1, M. K. Mishra2*, S. Prasad3, S. Singh4

1Department of Biochemistry, Heritage Institute of Medical Science, Varanasi, U.P., India;
2Department of Biochemistry, GMERS Medical College & Hospital, Vadnagar, Gujarat, India;
3Department of Biochemistry, K. J. Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre, Mumbai, India;
4Department of Microbiology, Integral Institute of Medical Science and Research, Lucknow, U.P., India;
*e-mail: mritunjaymishra007@gmail.com

Received: 25 July 2023; Revised: 12 October 2023;
Accepted: 27 October 2023; Available on-line: 06 November 2023

A number of recent reports have indicated the association of COVID-19 with multiple organ failure and the need to clarify the relationship between organ testing parameters and disease progression. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the degree of abnormal organ function test parameters and its correlation with COVID-19 severity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among COVID-19 patients admitted at Sanaka hospital, India, from August to September 2020. A total of 100 qRT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients divided into groups with mild or severe cases were enrolled. The data from venous blood samples for liver, renal, cardiac and inflammatory test parameters were included from the Sanaka hospital laboratory database. Biochemical prognostic tests were carried out using a clinical automated ERBA analyzer, cardiac markers were estimated with Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the data. Aspartate/Alanine aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase activity, creatinine, urea and troponin levels were higher in the confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Significantly higher levels of troponin, D-dimer and C reactive protein (CRP) were found in patients with severe COVID form compared to a mild one. A strong positive correlation between elevated D-dimer and Ferritin with CRP level was revealed in this group of patients. It was concluded that the positive relationship between serum D-dimer, ferritin levels and CRP level in patients can be considered a stable indicator of disease severity.

The relationship between serum ferritin levels and serum lipids and HDL function with respect to age and gender

Hamit Yasar Ellidag1*, Esin Eren1, Mehmet Akdag2,
Ozlem Giray1, Kemal Kiraz3, Necat Yilmaz1

1Central Laboratories of Antalya Training and Research Hospital,
University of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Health, Antalya, Turkey;
2ENT Clinic of Antalya Ataturk State Hospital, Ministry of Health, Antalya, Turkey;
3Department of Pulmonology, Antalya Ataturk State Hospital,
Ministry of Health, Antalya, Turkey;
e-mail: hayael1980@hotmail.com

Elevated serum ferritin (SFer) levels have been associated with chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus type 2. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between SFer levels and serum lipid parameters, and how this relation changes in terms of age and gender. Additionally, we investigated a possible relationship between SFer levels and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function. SFer levels and lipid panel (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-C) of 4205 people (3139 women, 1066 men) were examined retrospectively. Study population was classified according to age and gender. Separately, 100 subjects (52 women, 48 men) were randomly recruited to investigate the relation between SFer levels, and HDL dependent paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE) activities. In all age groups, women’s SFer levels were found to be significantly lower and HDL-C levels significantly higher compared to men. In the 50-70 ages range, TC and LDL-C levels of women were found to be significantly higher than those of men (P < 0.01). SFer levels tended to increase with age in women. Correlation analyses revealed a negative correlation between levels of SFer and HDL-C, while positive correlations existed between levels of SFer, and TC, TG and LDL-C. There was no significant correlation between SFer levels and PON1 or ARE activities. The finding that increased SFer levels are accompanied by increased serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels may help us to explain the increased risk of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

Remodulating effect of doxorubicin on the state of iron-containing proteins, and redox characteristics of tumor with allowance for its sensitivity to cytostatic agents

V. F. Chekhun, Yu. V. Lozovska, A. P. Burlaka,
I. I. Ganusevich, Yu. V. Shvets, N. Yu. Lukyanova,
I. M. Todor, N. A. Tregubova, L. A. Naleskina

R. E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology
and Radiobiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail: Lozovskaya.2012@mail.ru

The study was aimed at determining the changes of metal-containing proteins in blood serum and tumor tissue of animals with parental and doxorubicin-resistant strains of Walker-256 carcinosarcoma before and after the cytostatic administration. It has been shown that upon doxorubicin action the levels of total iron and transferrin in the tissues from the both groups of animals decreased while that of ferritine simultaneously increased with more pronounced pattern in the group of animals with resistant tumor strain. It has been shown that upon the action of doxorubicin in tumor tissue of animals with different sensitivity to the cytostatic there could be observed oppositely directed changes in the redox state of these cells that in turn determined the content of “free iron” complexes, ROS generation and concentration of active forms of matrix metaloproteinase-2 and matrix metaloproteinase-9, namely, the increase of these indexes in animals with parental strain and their decrease in animals with the resistant one. So, our study has demonstrated the remodulating effect of doxorubicin on the state of metal-containing proteins and redox characteristics of tumor dependent on its sensitivity to cytostatic, at the levels of the tumor and an organism. These data may serve as a criterion for the development of programs for the correction of malfunction of iron metabolism aimed at elevating tumor sensitivity to cytostatic agents.

Metalloproteins during development of Walker-256 carcinosarcoma resistant phenotype

V. F. Chekhun, Yu. V. Lozovska, A. P. Burlaka, I. I. Ganusevich,
Yu. V. Shvets, N. Yu. Lukianova, I. M. Todor, D. V. Demash,
A. A. Pavlova, L. A. Naleskina

R. E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mial: Lozovskaya.2012@mail.ru

The study was focused on the detection of changes in serum and tumor metal-containing proteins in animals during development of doxorubicin-resistant phenotype in malignant cells after 12 courses of chemotherapy. We found that on every stage of resistance development there was a significant increase in content of ferritin and transferrin proteins (which take part in iron traffick and storage) in Walker-256 carcinosarcoma tissue. We observed decreased serum ferritin levels at the beginning stage of the resistance development and significant elevation of this protein levels in the cases with fully developed resistance phenotype. Transferrin content showed changes opposite to that of ferritin. During the development of resistance phenotype the tumor tissue also exhibited increased ‘free iron’ concentration that putatively correlate with elevation of ROS generation and levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 active forms. The tumor non-protein  thiol content increases gradually as well. The serum of animals with early stages of resistance phenotype development showed high ceruloplasmin activity and its significant reduction after loss of tumor sensitivity to doxorubicin. Therefore, the development of resistance phenotype in Walker-256 carcinosarcoma is accompanied by both the deregulation of metal-containing proteins in serum and tumor tissue and by the changes in activity of antioxidant defense system. Thus, the results of this study allow us to determine the spectrum of metal-containing proteins that are involved in the development of resistant tumor phenotype and that may be targeted for methods for doxorubicin sensitivity correction therapy.