Background/aims: A body of evidence suggests that ceruloplasmin (Cp), the major serum copper-containing protein, acts in iron metabolism due to its ferroxidase activity which appears essential for iron movements and exchanges.
Methods: The present study investigated the serum levels of Cp and its ferroxidase activity in 53 C282Y homozygote genetic hemochromatosis (38 iron overloaded, 15 iron depleted) patients as compared to age and sex-matched healthy volunteers.
Results: Serum levels of Cp were significantly decreased in iron-overloaded male hemochromatotic patients vs. the control group (P=0.02). Furthermore, serum ferroxidase activity was strongly and significantly lower in iron-overloaded male hemochromatotic patients (P<0.001). In contrast, in iron-depleted male hemochromatotic patients, who were under maintenance therapy by regular phlebotomies, serum levels of Cp and ferroxidase activity were not statistically different from those observed in controls.
Conclusions: These data: (i) show that serum Cp and ferroxidase activity are decreased when C282Y homozygote men are iron overloaded and normal when iron depleted; (ii) suggest that iron may modulate the Cp gene expression; and (iii) raise the issue of the putative role of decreased serum ferroxidase activity in the phenotypic expression of HFE-1 hereditary hemochromatosis.