Distinct Features of Iron Metabolism in Erythroid Cells: Implications for Heme Synthesis Regulation

Abstract The inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase activity by heme is commonly thought to regulate the overall rate of heme synthesis in erythroid cells. However, since heme inhibits erythroid cell uptake of iron from transferrin, we have tested the hypothesis that in reticulocytes heme regulates its own synthesis by controlling the cellular acquisition of iron from transferrin rather than by controlling the synthesis of ALA. We found that hemin added to reticulocytes in vitro inhibits not only the total cell incorporation of 59Fe from transferrin but also the incorporation of [2–14C]-glycine and transferrin-bound 59Fe into heme. However, hemin did not inhibit [2 –14C]-glycine incorporation into protoporphyrin. Furthermore, cycloheximide, which increases the level of non-hemoglobin heme in reticulocytes, also inhibited [2–14C]-glycine into heme but not into protoporphyrin. With high concentrations of ferric pyridoxal benzoylhydrazone (Fe-PBH), which, independent of transferrin and transferrin receptors, can be used as a source of iron for heme synthesis in reticulocytes, significantly more iron is incorporated into heme than from saturating concentrations of Fe-transferrin. This suggests that some step (or steps) in the pathway of iron from extracellular transferrin to protoporphyrin limits the overall rate of heme synthesis in reticulocytes. In addition, hemin in concentrations that inhibit the utilization of transferrin-bound iron for heme synthesis has no effect on the incorporation of iron from Fe-PBH into heme. Our results indicate that in reticulocytes heme inhibits and controls the utilization of iron from transferrin but has no effect on the enzymes of porphyrin biosynthesis and ferrochelatase. This mode of regulation of heme synthesis may be a specific characteristic of the hemoglobin biosynthetic pathway.

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Regulation of heme synthesis in erythroid cells: hemin inhibits transferrin iron utilization but not protoporphyrin synthesis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v65.4.850.bloodjournal654850 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 850-857 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P Ponka ◽

HM Schulman

Keyword(s):

Biosynthetic Pathway ◽

Aminolevulinic Acid ◽

Cell Uptake ◽

Erythroid Cell ◽

Transferrin Receptors ◽

Erythroid Cells ◽

Heme Synthesis ◽

High Concentrations ◽

In Erythroid Cells

The inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase activity by heme is commonly thought to regulate the overall rate of heme synthesis in erythroid cells. However, since heme inhibits erythroid cell uptake of iron from transferrin, we have tested the hypothesis that in reticulocytes heme regulates its own synthesis by controlling the cellular acquisition of iron from transferrin rather than by controlling the synthesis of ALA. We found that hemin added to reticulocytes in vitro inhibits not only the total cell incorporation of 59Fe from transferrin but also the incorporation of [2–14C]-glycine and transferrin-bound 59Fe into heme. However, hemin did not inhibit [2 –14C]-glycine incorporation into protoporphyrin. Furthermore, cycloheximide, which increases the level of non-hemoglobin heme in reticulocytes, also inhibited [2–14C]-glycine into heme but not into protoporphyrin. With high concentrations of ferric pyridoxal benzoylhydrazone (Fe-PBH), which, independent of transferrin and transferrin receptors, can be used as a source of iron for heme synthesis in reticulocytes, significantly more iron is incorporated into heme than from saturating concentrations of Fe-transferrin. This suggests that some step (or steps) in the pathway of iron from extracellular transferrin to protoporphyrin limits the overall rate of heme synthesis in reticulocytes. In addition, hemin in concentrations that inhibit the utilization of transferrin-bound iron for heme synthesis has no effect on the incorporation of iron from Fe-PBH into heme. Our results indicate that in reticulocytes heme inhibits and controls the utilization of iron from transferrin but has no effect on the enzymes of porphyrin biosynthesis and ferrochelatase. This mode of regulation of heme synthesis may be a specific characteristic of the hemoglobin biosynthetic pathway.

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Target of Erythropoietin, Fam210b, Regulates Erythroid Heme Synthesis By Control of Mitochondrial Iron Import and Regulation of Fech Activity

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-120299 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 849-849

Author(s):

Yvette Y Yien ◽

Jiahai Shi ◽

Caiyong Chen ◽

Jesmine Cheung ◽

Anthony Grillo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Metabolism ◽

Fetal Liver ◽

Iron Status ◽

Cluster Formation ◽

Adaptor Protein ◽

Erythroid Differentiation ◽

Erythroid Cells ◽

Heme Synthesis ◽

Iron Transporter ◽

Mitochondrial Iron

Abstract Erythropoietin (EPO) signaling is critical to many processes essential to terminal erythropoiesis. Despite the centrality of iron metabolism to erythropoiesis, the mechanisms by which EPO regulates iron status are not well understood. To better understand these regulatory mechanisms, we profiled gene expression in EPO-treated fetal liver cells to identify novel iron regulatory genes (Figure A). We determined that FAM210B, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, was essential for hemoglobinization, proliferation, and enucleation during terminal erythroid maturation (Figure B). Fam210b deficiency led to defects in mitochondrial iron uptake, heme synthesis, and iron-sulfur cluster formation (Figure C). These defects were corrected with a lipid-soluble small molecule iron transporter in Fam210b-deficient murine erythroid cells and zebrafish morphants. Genetic complementation experiments revealed that FAM210B is not a mitochondrial iron transporter, but is required for optimal mitochondrial iron import during erythroid differentiation (Figure D). FAM210B is also required for optimal FECH activity in differentiating erythroid cells. As FAM210B interacts with the terminal enzymes of the heme synthesis pathway, we propose that FAM210B functions as an adaptor protein to facilitate the formation of an oligomeric mitochondrial iron transport complex, which is required for the increase in iron acquisition for heme synthesis during terminal erythropoiesis (Figure E). Collectively, our data reveal a novel mechanism by which EPO signaling regulates terminal erythropoiesis and iron metabolism. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Palis: Rubies Therapeutics: Consultancy.

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Suppression of Erythroid-Specific 5-Aminolevulinate Synthase Using Short-Interfering RNA Alters Iron Metabolism and Inhibits Terminal Differentiation of Human Erythroleukemia Cells.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v104.11.1632.1632 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 1632-1632

Author(s):

Kazumichi Furuyama ◽

Kiriko Kaneko ◽

Zhang Yongzhao ◽

Patrick D. Vargas V. ◽

Shigeru Sassa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Metabolism ◽

Mrna Level ◽

Critical Role ◽

Erythroid Differentiation ◽

Iron Accumulation ◽

Erythroid Cell ◽

Erythroid Cells ◽

Aminolevulinate Synthase ◽

Heme Synthesis ◽

Tgf Β1

Abstract Erythroid-specific 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS2) is the first and the rate limiting enzyme for heme biosynthesis in erythroid cells. ALAS2 plays a critical role in hemoglobin synthesis and erythrocyte maturation, since targeting the ALAS2 gene results in embryonic death in mice because of severe anemia. In humans, heritable mutations of the ALAS2 gene are responsible for X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA). However, the effect of suppressed expression of ALAS2 on erythroid cell differentiation has not been examined in human cells. We therefore addressed this question, by stably suppressing ALAS2 mRNA with short-interfering RNA (siRNA) in a human erythroleukemia cell line, YN-1. After cloning of cells expressing low ALAS2 (ALAS2low cells), cells were induced to undergo erythroid differentiation by treatment with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1). Gene expression profiles of induced and uninduced cells were examined, including genes involved in globin synthesis and iron metabolism. Hemoglobin production, as judged by o-dianisidine staining, was significantly lower in ALAS2low cells than in control cells both before and after erythroid differentiation. Both alpha and gamma globin mRNA levels were also reduced in ALAS2low cells, compared with control cells. Decreased heme synthesis as well as reduced globin production in ALAS2low erythroid cells are consistent with our previous findings in murine erythroleukemia cells studied by antisense technology (Meguro K, et al. Blood86:940–948, 1995), and extends our previous conclusion on the critical role of ALAS2 in heme and globin formation to human erythroid cells. Transferrin receptor (TFR) mRNA level was decreased in ALAS2low cells, and remained low following TGF-β1 treatment, whereas its level was increased in control cells during erythroid differentiation, which reflects enhanced iron uptake by differentiated control cells. Decreased TFR mRNA level in ALAS2low cells may suggest iron accumulation, since TFR mRNA is known to be unstable when intracellular iron level is increased. Notably, mitochondrial ferritin (MtF) mRNA level was decreased in control cells after differentiation, reflecting utilization of mitochondrial iron for heme synthesis, but it did not change in ALAS2low cells following TGF-β1 treatment. As accumulation of MtF protein is known to occur in iron-overloaded erythroid cells of patients with XLSA, our finding also suggests that there may be intramitochondrial iron accumulation in ALAS2low cells even after differentiation. In contrast to MtF mRNA, the level of cytosolic ferritin heavy chain mRNA was similar both in ALAS2low cells and control cells. These findings suggest that MtF levels, rather than cytosolic ferritin levels, may be a sensitive and specific indicator for iron accumulation in mitochondria. This study shows the critical role of ALAS2 not only in heme synthesis and hemoglobin formation, but also in iron metabolism in erythroid cells during their cell differentiation. An ALAS2low erythroid cell line, such as ALAS2-suppressed YN-1, will provide a good model for the study of relationship between heme biosynthesis and iron metabolism during terminal differentiation of human erythroid cells.

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Consequences of DMT1 Mutation on Proliferation and Hemoglobinization of Erythroid Progenitors In Vitro.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v104.11.3190.3190 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 3190-3190 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Monika Priwitzerova ◽

Dagmar Pospisilova ◽

Karel Indrak ◽

Prem Ponka ◽

Vladimir Divoky

Keyword(s):

Iron Metabolism ◽

Erythroid Cells ◽

Erythroid Progenitors ◽

Divalent Metal Transporter 1 ◽

Α Subunit ◽

Iron Chelate ◽

Eif2α Phosphorylation ◽

The Impact ◽

In Erythroid Cells

Abstract Disorders of iron metabolism and homeostatis belong to the most common diseases in humans; however, neither the regulation of iron metabolism in erythroid cells nor the pathophysiology of these diseases are completely understood. Last year we reported at this meeting a case of severe hypochromic microcytic anemia caused by a homozygous mutation in the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) gene (DMT1 1285G>C). The defective growth of this patient’s erythroid progenitors in vitro was rescued by the addition of 10 μM iron-salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (Fe-SIH), an iron chelate that has been shown to deliver iron for heme synthesis without involving the transferrin receptor/DMT1 pathway. To further characterize the impact of the DMT1 mutation on the in vitro growth of erythroid progenitors, 10 μM Fe-SIH, 25 μM hemin or 10 μM zinc chloride (ZnCl2) were added to the erythropoietin (Epo) containing cultures. All substances increased the plating efficiency in normal control as well as mutant BFU-Es. Moreover, all substances led to a 1.4 to 1.6 fold increase in hemoglobin (Hb) content in normal BFU-Es. Although hemin did not significantly increase Hb content in the patient’s BFU-E, the addition of Fe-SIH to the Epo/hemin-containing cultures increased Hb content 2.2 fold. Since Hb synthesis in heme-deficient erythroid cells is inhibited by heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI) kinase, which specifically phosphorylates the α subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), we have analyzed the level of eIF2α phosphorylation in cytospine-harvested BFU-Es. Immunofluorescence analysis of erythroid cells with phospo-eIF2α (Ser51) antibody revealed increased phosphorylation of eIF2α in mutant BFU-Es compared to control BFU-Es grown under all aforementioned conditions. The most striking differences were observed in Epo and Epo/hemin containing cultures, in which the fractions of phospho-eIF2α-positive cells were significantly higher in mutant BFU-Es. These data suggest that the block of terminal differentiation/hemoglobinization in the DMT1-mutant erythroid cells is only partially caused by translational arrest of globin chain synthesis; the delivery of iron may be required for other cellular functions apart from Hb synthesis. Interestingly, the most prominent positive effect on the proliferation (i.e., BFU-E cellularity) as well as hemoglobinization of mutant BFU-Es had a combination of Epo/Fe-SIH and ZnCl2; this combination led to the highest increase in Hb content that was associated with almost complete lack of eIF2α phosphorylation. This suggests that the addition of Zn2+ to Fe-SIH containing cultures further stimulates processes that are initially rescued in DMT1-mutant erythroid cells by the addition of iron. We conclude, that the DMT1 defect in erythroid cells is complex, probably involving the combination of transcriptional and translational defects that cannot be rescued by hemin alone. Figure Figure

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Nitrogen Monoxide Inhibits Heme Synthesis In Reticulocytes

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.4252.4252 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 4252-4252

Author(s):

Marc Mikhael ◽

Sameer Apte ◽

Shan Soe-Lin ◽

Prem Ponka

Keyword(s):

Iron Metabolism ◽

Iron Uptake ◽

Aminolevulinic Acid ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

No Production ◽

Erythroid Cells ◽

Anemia Of Chronic Disease ◽

Heme Synthesis ◽

Eif2α Phosphorylation ◽

Globin Synthesis

Abstract Abstract 4252 Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is a condition that often manifests in patients with chronic immune activation due to chronic infections, autoimmune disorders, cancer and other diseases. The pathogenesis of ACD is complex and involves inefficient erythropoietin production, immune-mediated inhibition of erythropoiesis, and retention of iron in hemoglobin-processing macrophages. During their development, erythroid cells are closely associated with macrophages. In inflammatory conditions, activated macrophages generate large quantities of the gaseous molecule, nitric oxide (NO), which has numerous effects on iron metabolism. In this study, we explored the possibility that NO affects iron metabolism in erythroid cells. We treated reticulocytes with the NO donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP). We show that NO inhibits 59Fe incorporation from 59Fe-transferrin into reticulocytes and their heme. Significantly, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA, the product of ALA synthase, which catalyzes the first step of heme synthesis) reversed the SNP-mediated decrease in 59Fe incorporation into heme but not the cellular 59Fe uptake. In addition, SNP treatment led to an increase in eIF2α phosphorylation (which is known to occur in heme-deficient cells) and decreased globin translation. Importantly, the addition of ALA to SNP-treated reticulocytes prevented the effect of SNP on eIF2α phosphorylation and reversed globin synthesis inhibition. This indicates that in SNP treated reticulocytes, the phosphorylation of eIF2α and inhibition of globin synthesis occur indirectly, via NO's effect on erythroid-specific ALA synthase (ALA-S2). These results led us to conclude that NO has two distinct effects on reticulocytes, namely: a decrease in ALA-S2 activity and a decrease in transferrin-mediated iron uptake. The profound impact of NO on heme synthesis, iron uptake and globin translation in reticulocytes raises the possibility that NO production by macrophages could also contribute to ACD. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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