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Human platelets express hemochromatosis protein (HFE) and transferrin receptor 2
Jokke Hannuksela1, Seppo Parkkila, Abdul Waheed
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. jokkeha@paju.oulu.fi
Objectives:
While body iron status may influence platelets, little information is available about platelet expression of proteins regulating iron homeostasis. HFE, the protein defective in hereditary hemochromatosis, and transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) are two novel protein candidates that could be involved in mechanisms of iron transport across the platelet plasma membrane.
Methods:
The expression and localization of HFE, TfR1 and TfR2 proteins in human platelets were examined using Western blotting and immunocytochemistry.
Results:
Human platelets expressed HFE and TfR2, whereas no signal for TfR1 was found. The positive reactions for HFE and TfR2 were mainly confined to the platelet plasma membrane.
Conclusions:
Expression of HFE and TfR2 proteins in human platelets may indicate that the mutations in the corresponding genes could influence platelet count, size and/or activation. The presence of TfR2 and absence of TfR1 suggests that HFE may serve a different function in platelets compared with the other HFE-positive cell types, e.g. enterocytes, macrophages and syncytiotrophoblasts.