LC3/FtMt Colocalization Patterns Reveal the Progression of FtMt Accumulation in Nigral Neurons of Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) is a mitochondrial iron storage protein associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), FtMt was shown to accumulate in nigral neurons. Here, we investigated FtMt and LC3 in the post-mortem midbrain of PSP patients to reveal novel aspects of the pathology. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the distribution and abnormal changes in FtMt and LC3 immunoreactivities. Colocalization analysis using double immunofluorescence was performed, and subcellular patterns were examined using 3D imaging and modeling. In the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), strong FtMt-IR and LC3-IR were observed in the neurons of PSP patients. In other midbrain regions, such as the superior colliculus, the FtMt-IR and LC3-IR remained unchanged. In the SNc, nigral neurons were categorized into four patterns based on subcellular LC3/FtMt immunofluorescence intensities, degree of colocalization, and subcellular overlapping. This categorization suggested that concomitant accumulation of LC3/FtMt is related to mitophagy processes. Using the LC3-IR to stage neuronal damage, we retraced LC3/FtMt patterns and revealed the progression of FtMt accumulation in nigral neurons. Informed by these findings, we proposed a hypothesis to explain the function of FtMt during PSP progression.

H-Ferritin Produced by Myeloid Cells Is Released to the Circulation and Plays a Major Role in Liver Iron Distribution during Infection

During infections, the host redistributes iron in order to starve pathogens from this nutrient. Several proteins are involved in iron absorption, transport, and storage. Ferritin is the most important iron storage protein. It is composed of variable proportions of two peptides, the L- and H-ferritins (FTL and FTH). We previously showed that macrophages increase their expression of FTH1 when they are infected in vitro with Mycobacterium avium, without a significant increase in FTL. In this work, we investigated the role of macrophage FTH1 in M. avium infection in vivo. We found that mice deficient in FTH1 in myeloid cells are more resistant to M. avium infection, presenting lower bacterial loads and lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines than wild-type littermates, due to the lower levels of available iron in the tissues. Importantly, we also found that FTH1 produced by myeloid cells in response to infection may be found in circulation and that it plays a key role in iron redistribution. Specifically, in the absence of FTH1 in myeloid cells, increased expression of ferroportin is observed in liver granulomas and increased iron accumulation occurs in hepatocytes. These results highlight the importance of FTH1 expression in myeloid cells for iron redistribution during infection.

CD63 is Regulated by Iron via the IRE-IRP System and is Important for Ferritin Secretion by Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) transfer functional molecules between cells. CD63 is a widely recognized EV marker that contributes to EV secretion from cells. However, the regulation of its expression remains largely unknown. Ferritin is a cellular iron storage protein that can be also secreted by the exosome pathway (Truman-Rosentsvit M. et al. BLOOD 131 (2018) 342-352), with serum ferritin levels classically reflecting body iron stores. Iron metabolism-associated proteins, such as ferritin, are intricately regulated by cellular iron levels via the iron responsive element (IRE)-iron regulatory protein (IRP) system. Herein, we present a novel mechanism demonstrating that the expression of the EV-associated protein, CD63, is under the regulation of the IRE-IRP system. We discovered a canonical IRE in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of CD63 mRNA responsible for regulating its expression in response to increased iron. Cellular iron-loading caused a marked increase in CD63 expression and the secretion from cells of CD63 positive (i.e., CD63(+)) EVs, which were shown to contain ferritin-H (FtH) and -L (FtL). Our results demonstrate that under iron-loading, intracellular ferritin is transferred via nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) to CD63(+) EVs that are then secreted. Such iron-regulated secretion of the major iron storage protein ferritin via CD63(+) EVs, poses significant impact for understanding the local cell-to-cell exchange of ferritin and iron.

Peran Ferritin pada Stroke Iskemik Akut

Stroke is a neurological deficit that occurs due to acute focal injury to the central nervous system that occurs solely due to vascular disorders, including cerebral infarction or bleeding. Ferritin is an intracellular and extracellular iron storage protein which is essential for iron homeostasis in the body. Ferritin is expressed in microglia and macrophages, and also in neurons. If there is cell damage due to ischemic stroke, ferritin will leave the cells and enter the serum. The hypoxia-ischemic state in stroke induces the expression of ferritin in oligodendrocytes and microglia. When there is oxidative stress, ferritin formation will increase. The function of ferritin in times of oxidative stress is still controversial. Ferritin in this condition can act as a scavenger and as a donor for free iron ions. Ischemic stroke patients with larger lesions and more severe neurological deficits showed higher serum ferritin levels and a higher likelihood of complications of bleeding transformation.

Chemistry and Biology of Ferritin

Iron is an essential element required by cells and has been described as a key player in ferroptosis. Ferritin operates as a fundamental iron storage protein in cells forming multimeric assemblies with crystalline iron cores. We discuss the latest findings on ferritin structure and activity and its link to cell metabolism and ferroptosis. The chemistry of iron, including its oxidations states, is important for its biological functions, its reactivity and the biology of ferritin. Ferritin can be localized in different cellular compartments and secreted by cells with a variety of functions depending on its spatial context. Here, we discuss how cellular ferritin localization is tightly linked to its function in a tissue-specific manner, and how impairment of iron homeostasis is implicated in diseases including cancer and COVID-19. Ferritin is a potential biomarker and we discuss latest research where it has been employed for imaging purposes and drug delivery.

Iron loading is a prominent feature of activated microglia in Alzheimer’s disease patients

Brain iron accumulation has been found to accelerate disease progression in amyloid-β(Aβ) positive Alzheimer patients, though the mechanism is still unknown. Microglia have been identified as key players in the disease pathogenesis, and are highly reactive cells responding to aberrations such as increased iron levels. Therefore, using histological methods, multispectral immunofluorescence and an automated in-house developed microglia segmentation and analysis pipeline, we studied the occurrence of iron-accumulating microglia and the effect on its activation state in human Alzheimer brains. We identified a subset of microglia with increased expression of the iron storage protein ferritin light chain (FTL), together with increased Iba1 expression, decreased TMEM119 and P2RY12 expression. This activated microglia subset represented iron-accumulating microglia and appeared morphologically dystrophic. Multispectral immunofluorescence allowed for spatial analysis of FTL+Iba1+-microglia, which were found to be the predominant Aβ-plaque infiltrating microglia. Finally, an increase of FTL+Iba1+-microglia was seen in patients with high Aβ load and Tau load. These findings suggest iron to be taken up by microglia and to influence the functional phenotype of these cells, especially in conjunction with Aβ.

Iron-loading is a prominent feature of activated microglia in Alzheimer’s disease patients

Brain iron accumulation has been found to accelerate disease progression in Amyloid β-positive Alzheimer patients, though the mechanism is still unknown. Microglia have been identified as key-players in the disease pathogenesis, and are highly reactive cells responding to aberrations such as increased iron levels. Therefore, using histological methods, multispectral immunofluorescence and an automated in-house developed microglia segmentation and analysis pipeline, we studied the occurrence of iron-accumulating microglia and the effect on its activation state in human Alzheimer brains. We identified a subset of microglia with increased expression of the iron storage protein ferritin light chain (FTL), together with increased Iba1 expression, decreased TMEM119 and P2RY12 expression. This activated microglia subset represented iron-accumulating microglia and appeared morphologically dystrophic. Multispectral immunofluorescence allowed for spatial analysis of FTL+Iba1+-microglia, which were found to be the predominant Aβ-plaque infiltrating microglia. Finally, an increase of FTL+Iba1+-microglia was seen in patients with high Amyloid-β load and Tau load. These findings suggest iron to be taken up by microglia and to influence the functional phenotype of these cells, especially in conjunction with Aβ.

Hubungan Antara Karakteristik dengan Kadar Ferritin pada Ibu Hamil Trimester III di Puskesmas Jagir Surabaya

Ferritin is an iron storage protein and is extracellular in serum. Ferritin serum functions as a clinical marker of the body's iron stores status. Low ferritin levels illustrate the low iron stores that lead to iron deficiency conditions resulting in anemia in pregnant women. Some maternal characteristics affect ferritin levels in pregnant women.This study aims to determine the relationship between characteristics with ferritin levels. Taking the location of the research at the Jagir Public Health Center in Surabaya with a sample of 30 respondents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research method was observational analytic by taking maternal venous blood to be examined for ferritin levels then looking for the relationship with the characteristics of pregnant women and analyzed using chi square. More than half (83%) of respondents had ferritin levels <30 µg / ml. The results of the analysis using chi square (p = <0.05) show that there is a relationship between age (0.04) and parity (0.01) with ferritin levels. No relationship between education (0.71) and employment (0.23) with ferritin levels. Age and parity were related to ferritin levels. Education and work are not related to ferritin levels for pregnant women in the third trimester. It is expected that pregnant women increase consumption of foods that contain lots of iron to prevent anemia and health workers provide socialization of foods that contain lots of iron.

FTH1 Pseudogenes in Cancer and Cell Metabolism

Ferritin, the principal intracellular iron-storage protein localized in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria, plays a major role in iron metabolism. The encoding ferritin genes are members of a multigene family that includes some pseudogenes. Even though pseudogenes have been initially considered as relics of ancient genes or junk DNA devoid of function, their role in controlling gene expression in normal and transformed cells has recently been re-evaluated. Numerous studies have revealed that some pseudogenes compete with their parental gene for binding to the microRNAs (miRNAs), while others generate small interference RNAs (siRNAs) to decrease functional gene expression, and still others encode functional mutated proteins. Consequently, pseudogenes can be considered as actual master regulators of numerous biological processes. Here, we provide a detailed classification and description of the structural features of the ferritin pseudogenes known to date and review the recent evidence on their mutual interrelation within the complex regulatory network of the ferritin gene family.