The effect of chelating agents on iron mobilization in Chang cell cultures
GP White, A Jacobs, RW Grady and A Cerami
The investigation of chelating agents with potential therapeutic value in
patients with transfusional iron overload has been facilitated by the use
of Chang cell cultures. These cells have been incubated with
[59Fe]transferrin for 22 hr, following which most of the intracellular
radioiron is found in the cytosol, distributed between a ferritin and a
nonferritin form. Iron release from the cells depends on transferrin
saturation in the medium, but when transferrin is 100% saturated, which
normally does not allow iron release, desferrioxamine, 2,3-
dihydroxybenzoic acid, rhodotorulic acid, cholythydroxamic acid, and
tropolone all promote the mobilization of ferritin iron and its release
from cells. They are effective to an approximately equal degree. The
incubation of [59Fe]transferrin with tropolone in vitro at a molar ratio of
1:500 results in the transfer of most of the labeled iron to the chelator,
reflecting the exceptionally high binding constant of this compound. How
far these phenomena relate to therapeutic potentially remains to be seen.
Volume 48,
Issue 6,
pp. 923-929,
12/01/1976
Copyright © 1976 by The American Society of Hematology
