In mice, this response was attenuated after administration of the TLR-4 inhibitor, TAK-242, suggesting hemin potentiates pulmonary macrophage activation and inflammation through hemin-induced TLR-4 receptor binding [27].
The causes for RBC-based toxicant exposures are multifactorial; however, following acute transfusion, the most common occurs during the processes of extravascular hemolysis, which includes macrophage erythrophagocytosis followed by macrophage death [1&&], release of iron, transferrin (Tf) saturation and, finally, accumulation of labile plasma iron (LPI) [2].
Acute large volume blood transfusion or administration of blood units at later stages of storage causes elevation of bilirubin, Tf saturation and LPI in animals [18&&] and humans [19&&].
Conversely, chronic transfusions associated with b-thalassemia major and sickle cell disease lead to hemochromatosis with end organ injury.
Accumulation of iron in tissue parenchyma with subsequent hemochromatosis is a well-known problem in chronic transfusion-dependent diseases such as b-thalassemia major, and in sickle cell disease patients when stroke prevention is indicated.
For example, cardiac iron accumu -lation is more common in transfused thalassemia patients, whereas liver iron accumulation is most common in transfused sickle cell disease patients.
For example, Hb and subsequently, hemin accumulate during storage of human blood as RBC membrane integrity decreases [4].
There is a clear need for, and medical benefit from, blood transfusions; nonetheless, administration of red blood cells (RBCs) does result in exposure to toxicants specific to hemoglobin (Hb) and its degradation components, hemin and iron.
In diseases of intravascular hemolysis, Hp is often not detectable and lower Hp levels are associated with transfusion.
Because of large exposures to iron that occur in both disorders following transfusion, patients are inevitably prescribed small molecule iron chelation and the concomitant monitoring that is required.
Of the biological components known to bind hemin, Hpx is by far the most efficient with a dissociation constant (Kd) lower than 1 x 10–13 M; as a result, after binding, the transfer of hemin from Hpx to other proteins or lipids is not possible [24].
Once bound to hemin, the Hpx-hemin complex prevents oxidative reactions and facilitates clearance of the complex through macrophage CD91, also referred to as lowdensity lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1.
The pool of di-ferric Tf binds to erythroid cell transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and contributes to erythropoiesis [16].
Hp is a plasma glyco-protein that normally circulates in within a concentration range of 0.3–2mg/ml and is the putative scavenger of cell-free Hb with a high affinity (KD¼10–12M) for Hb dimers (Fig. 1 A,B and Fig. 2 C [31]).
Tf is an abundant plasma glycoprotein that normally circulates at a high concentration (2–4mg/ml) to prevent accumulation of LPI.
Sequestration of LPI and prevention of pro-oxidative effects by the administration of apo-Tf may have clinical relevance following acute and chronic transfusion iron overload.
These studies do begin to suggest that apo-Tf administration could attenuate acute iron overload and hemochromatosis progression following chronic RBC transfusions.
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If you find BEL Commons useful in your work, please consider citing: Hoyt, C. T., Domingo-Fernández, D., & Hofmann-Apitius, M. (2018). BEL Commons: an environment for exploration and analysis of networks encoded in Biological Expression Language. Database, 2018(3), 1–11.