Ferritin synthesis in peripheral blood monocytes in idiopathic hemochromatosis

RE ferritin synthesis in IHC was studied in M0s isolated from peripheral blood. Twelve phlebotomized hemochromatosis patients with normal body iron stores and 12 healthy control subjects were studied. M0s in culture were exposed to iron as either ferric ammonium citrate or iron dextran, and ferritin synthesis was determined by measurement of 3H-leucine incorporation after isolation of ferritin by a quantitative immunoadsorbent technique. Iron at concentrations of 150 and 300 microM induced de novo ferritin synthesis, increasing both 3H-leucine incorporation into ferritin and cellular ferritin content. However, no differences were observed between hemochromatosis and control M0s with respect to basal or iron-stimulated ferritin synthesis. The study has demonstrated that M0 ferritin synthesis in IHC does not differ from M0 ferritin synthesis in normal subjects and therefore suggests that the reported abnormalities in RE iron storage in IHC are not related to an inability of RE cells to synthesize ferritin.