Iron studies Flashcards
what are the roles of iron in the body?
oxygen carriers, oxygen storage, energy production, erythropoeisis
How many iron per hb?
4
What is the role of ferritin? what is the role of transferrin?
Ferritin= iron storage Fe2+; Transferrin= iron transport Fe 3+
what is the % saturation of transferrin with iron?
40%
what is the significance of the HFE receptor?
It controls the transferrin receptor, and how much iron is transported. Regulates hepcidin. So a mutation in HFE –> haemachromatosis (deficiency in hepcidin)
Why does high iron levels lead to low transferrin levels?
Iron in the cell binds to Iron Responsive Element (binding protein). This makes the binding protein NOT BIND to the mRNA of transferrin. Hence the transferrin becomes unstable and is consumed.
Conversely, If there is low iron, then the binding protein –> binds to mRNA of transferrin–> production of transferrin
what is iron deficiency?
lack of iron for physiology
What are some physiological losses of iron?
Menses, sloughing of gut cells, sweat, pregnancy
what are some pathological losses of iron?
gut ulceration, tumours, hookworm infection, malaria
What type of anaemia is iron deficiency anaemia?
microcytic, hypochromic
What is the levels of iron, ferritin, TF and Sat TF in iron excess?
High iron, low transferrin, high ferritin, high sat TF
What is the levels of iron, ferritin, TF and Sat TF in iron deficiency?
low iron, high TF, low ferritin, low sat TF
What is the levels of iron, ferritin, TF and Sat TF in inflammation?
low iron, low TF, low sat TF, high ferritin
how much iron do we lose normally each day?
1-2mg
how much iron is in our body normally
4g
