Neutrophil bactericidal dysfunction towards oxidant radical-sensitive microorganisms during experimental iron deficiency

We developed a clear-cut nutritional iron deficiency anemia without concomittant malnutrition in rats given a low iron diet, and we restored normal iron and hemoglobin levels in these same animals with iron dextran injections. The neutrophil function studies performed during and after a period of iron deficiency showed the following: Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus 502A, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhimurium was not altered by iron deficiency or by the administration of iron; phagocytosis of Candida albicans was moderately abnormal during iron deficiency, and became normal with the restoration of iron sufficiency. Microbicidal activity towards Staphylococcus aureus 502A and Candida albicans, two catalase-positive microorganisms, was markedly decreased (to 50% of control values) and returned to normal when iron sufficiency was restored. Killing of a catalase-negative organism, Streptococcus pneumoniae was normal in iron-deficient rats. This pattern of differential bactericidal activities suggested an abnormality of the oxidant radical-generating machinery in neutrophils of iron-deficient animals. Indeed, iron deficiency caused a marked decrease of neutrophil nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction, which disappeared after iron administration. Neutrophil myeloperoxidase activity was slightly decreased in iron deficient rats and returned to normal after iron administration. Microbicidal activity towards a gram-negative, catalase-positive organism, Salmonella typhimurium, was equal in iron deficient and iron sufficient animals. Our combined results suggest that a definite microbicidal defect is the consequence of nutritional iron deficiency, apart from any protein-calorie malnutrition. This defect affects the disposal in PMNs of two catalase-positive microorganisms (which require intracellular production of oxidant radicals for their destruction) but not of a catalase-negative bacterial species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)