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Interrelationships of alcohol and iron in liver disease with particular reference to the iron-binding proteins, ferritin and transferrin. 1999

L M Fletcher, and J W Halliday, and L W Powell
The Clinical Sciences Unit, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia. lindaF@qimr.edu.au

It is known that the regular consumption of alcohol is responsible for the disruption of normal iron metabolism in humans, resulting in the excess deposition of iron in the liver in approximately one-third of alcoholic subjects. The mechanisms involved are largely unknown; however, it is likely that the two major proteins of iron metabolism, ferritin and transferrin are intimately involved in the process. Tissue damage in alcoholic liver disease and the inherited iron-overload disease, haemochromatosis, are caused by excess alcohol and iron, respectively. The mechanisms of this damage are believed to be similar in both disease conditions and involve free radical-mediated toxicity. A high proportion of haemochromatosis sufferers consume excessive amounts of alcohol and synergistic hepatotoxic events may occur leading to the earlier development of liver cirrhosis. This review describes briefly the role of ferritin and transferrin in normal iron metabolism and in iron overload disease and explores the possible involvement of these proteins in the pathophysiology of excess iron deposition in alcoholic subjects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007501 Iron A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN. Iron-56,Iron 56
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008107 Liver Diseases Pathological processes of the LIVER. Liver Dysfunction,Disease, Liver,Diseases, Liver,Dysfunction, Liver,Dysfunctions, Liver,Liver Disease,Liver Dysfunctions
D008108 Liver Diseases, Alcoholic Liver diseases associated with ALCOHOLISM. It usually refers to the coexistence of two or more subentities, i.e., ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER; ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS; and ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS. Alcoholic Liver Diseases,Alcoholic Liver Disease,Liver Disease, Alcoholic
D005293 Ferritins Iron-containing proteins that are widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Their major function is to store IRON in a nontoxic bioavailable form. Each ferritin molecule consists of ferric iron in a hollow protein shell (APOFERRITINS) made of 24 subunits of various sequences depending on the species and tissue types. Basic Isoferritin,Ferritin,Isoferritin,Isoferritin, Basic
D006432 Hemochromatosis A disorder of iron metabolism characterized by a triad of HEMOSIDEROSIS; LIVER CIRRHOSIS; and DIABETES MELLITUS. It is caused by massive iron deposits in parenchymal cells that may develop after a prolonged increase of iron absorption. (Jablonski's Dictionary of Syndromes & Eponymic Diseases, 2d ed) Diabetes, Bronze,Bronze Diabetes,Bronzed Cirrhosis,Familial Hemochromatosis,Genetic Hemochromatosis,Haemochromatosis,Hemochromatoses,Iron Storage Disorder,Pigmentary Cirrhosis,Primary Hemochromatosis,Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard Syndrome,Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum Disease,Bronzed Cirrhoses,Cirrhoses, Bronzed,Cirrhoses, Pigmentary,Cirrhosis, Bronzed,Cirrhosis, Pigmentary,Disease, Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum,Diseases, Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum,Disorder, Iron Storage,Disorders, Iron Storage,Familial Hemochromatoses,Genetic Hemochromatoses,Haemochromatoses,Hemochromatose,Hemochromatoses, Familial,Hemochromatoses, Genetic,Hemochromatosis, Familial,Hemochromatosis, Genetic,Iron Storage Disorders,Pigmentary Cirrhoses,Recklenhausen-Applebaum Disease, Von,Recklenhausen-Applebaum Diseases, Von,Storage Disorder, Iron,Storage Disorders, Iron,Syndrome, Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard,Syndromes, Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard,Troisier Hanot Chauffard Syndrome,Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard Syndromes,Von Recklenhausen Applebaum Disease,Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum Diseases
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012806 Siderosis A form of pneumoconiosis resulting from inhalation of iron in the mining dust or welding fumes. Sideroses
D014168 Transferrin An iron-binding beta1-globulin that is synthesized in the LIVER and secreted into the blood. It plays a central role in the transport of IRON throughout the circulation. A variety of transferrin isoforms exist in humans, including some that are considered markers for specific disease states. Siderophilin,Isotransferrin,Monoferric Transferrins,Serotransferrin,Transferrin B,Transferrin C,beta 2-Transferrin,beta-1 Metal-Binding Globulin,tau-Transferrin,Globulin, beta-1 Metal-Binding,Metal-Binding Globulin, beta-1,Transferrins, Monoferric,beta 1 Metal Binding Globulin,beta 2 Transferrin,tau Transferrin
D019190 Iron Overload An excessive accumulation of iron in the body due to a greater than normal absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract or from parenteral injection. This may arise from idiopathic hemochromatosis, excessive iron intake, chronic alcoholism, certain types of refractory anemia, or transfusional hemosiderosis. (From Churchill's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 1989) Overload, Iron

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