Effect of Ferritin on Globin Synthesis

Abstract

IN certain hypersideraemic anaemias the erythroid precursor cells in the bone marrow contain iron deposits. The iron overloaded mitochondria of these sideroblasts are not capable of synthesizing haem at a normal rate¹. Iron-containing deposits are demonstrable not only in mitochondria, but also in other parts of the cytoplasm of these cells. It is, therefore, possible that iron overload also affects globin synthesis directly. In some of these hypersideraemic anaemias pyridoxine has been found to have a therapeutic effect which is likely to be due to the mobilization of the mitochondrial iron deposits¹. In view of the amelioration of the anaemia of thalassaemia with pyridoxine², a direct influence of this vitamin on globin synthesis might also be assumed.