Profound morphological changes in the erythrocytes and fibrin networks of patients with hemochromatosis or with hyperferritinemia, and their normalization by iron chelators and other agents

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 9;9(1):e85271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085271. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

It is well-known that individuals with increased iron levels are more prone to thrombotic diseases, mainly due to the presence of unliganded iron, and thereby the increased production of hydroxyl radicals. It is also known that erythrocytes (RBCs) may play an important role during thrombotic events. Therefore the purpose of the current study was to assess whether RBCs had an altered morphology in individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), as well as some who displayed hyperferritinemia (HF). Using scanning electron microscopy, we also assessed means by which the RBC and fibrin morphology might be normalized. An important objective was to test the hypothesis that the altered RBC morphology was due to the presence of excess unliganded iron by removing it through chelation. Very striking differences were observed, in that the erythrocytes from HH and HF individuals were distorted and had a much greater axial ratio compared to that accompanying the discoid appearance seen in the normal samples. The response to thrombin, and the appearance of a platelet-rich plasma smear, were also markedly different. These differences could largely be reversed by the iron chelator desferal and to some degree by the iron chelator clioquinol, or by the free radical trapping agents salicylate or selenite (that may themselves also be iron chelators). These findings are consistent with the view that the aberrant morphology of the HH and HF erythrocytes is caused, at least in part, by unliganded ('free') iron, whether derived directly via raised ferritin levels or otherwise, and that lowering it or affecting the consequences of its action may be of therapeutic benefit. The findings also bear on the question of the extent to which accepting blood donations from HH individuals may be desirable or otherwise.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Clioquinol / therapeutic use
  • Deferoxamine / therapeutic use
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / pathology*
  • Female
  • Ferritins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ferritins / blood*
  • Fibrin / metabolism
  • Fibrin / ultrastructure*
  • Hemochromatosis / drug therapy*
  • Hemochromatosis / metabolism
  • Hemochromatosis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyl Radical / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hydroxyl Radical / metabolism
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Iron Chelating Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Middle Aged
  • Platelet-Rich Plasma / chemistry
  • Salicylic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Selenious Acid / therapeutic use
  • Thrombin / pharmacology
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Iron Chelating Agents
  • Hydroxyl Radical
  • Clioquinol
  • Fibrin
  • Ferritins
  • Iron
  • Thrombin
  • Selenious Acid
  • Deferoxamine
  • Salicylic Acid

Grants and funding

Funding body: The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF): E Pretorius. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.