Koorts, Alida MariaLevay, Peter FerencHall, Alan N.Van der Merwe, Christiaan F.Becker, Piet J.Viljoen, Margaretha2011-06-132011-06-132011-05A.M. Koorts, et al., Expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells ofthe erythron during cellular immune activation, Blood Cells Mol. Diseases (2011), doi:10.1016/j.bcmd.2011.04.0061079-9796 (print)1096-0961 (online)10.1016/j.bcmd.2011.04.006http://hdl.handle.net/2263/16806BACKGROUND: The expression of the two types of ferritin subunits, the H-subunit and L-subunit, has been shown to be differentially regulated by cytokines. The primary aim of the present study was to quantitatively measure the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation. METHODS: The expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron was quantitatively evaluated by post-embedding immunolocalisation with immunogold transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The present study showed up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in patients with pronounced cellular immune activation (94.7 ± 37.3 counts/μm2; n = 31 vs 72.4 ± 34.0 counts/μm2; n = 13, p-value = 0.037). CONCLUSION: This supports a possible role for H-subunit rich ferritins in the hypoferraemia of chronic disease.en© 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.FerritinIsoferritinsH-subunitL-subunitIronCellular immune activationMolecular immunology -- South AfricaPostprint Article