Comparative study between Hfe-/- and beta 2m-/- mice: progression with age of iron status and liver pathology

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Pedro Rodrigues (Author) ICBAS; Celia Lopes (Author) Other; Claudia Mascarenhas (Author) Other; Paolo Arosio (Author) Other; Graca Porto (Author) ICBAS; Maria De Sousa (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Journal of Experimental Pathology

Vol. 87

Pages: 317-324

ISSN: 0959-9673

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 14 Citations

Scopus - 19 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-J5P

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2613.2006.00491.x

Abstract (EN): Hepatic iron overload in hemochomatosis patients can be highly variable but in general it develops in older patients. The purpose of this study was to compare development of iron load in of beta 2m-/- and Hfe-/- mice paying special attention to liver pathology in older age groups. Liver iron content of beta 2m-/-, Hfe-/- and control B6 mice of different ages (varying from 3 weeks to 18 months) was examined. Additional parameters (haematology indices, histopathology, lipid content and ferritin expression) were also studied in 18-month-old mice. The beta 2m-/- strain presents higher hepatic iron content, hepatocyte nuclear iron inclusions, mitochondria abnormalities. In addition, hepatic steatosis was a common observation in this strain. In the liver of Hfe-/- mice, large mononuclear infiltrates positive for ferritin staining were commonly observed. The steatosis commonly observed the beta 2m-/- mice may be a reflection of its higher hepatic iron content. The large hepatic mononuclear cell infiltrates seen in Hfe-/- stained for ferritin, may point to the iron sequestration capacity of lymphocytes and contribute to the clarification of the differences found in the progression of hepatic iron overload and steatosis in older animals from the two strains.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8