Comparison of Immune Responses Induced by Deferoxamine and Deferasirox

BACKGROUND: The iron chelating agents (ICA) have various biological effects besides iron chelation. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of Deferasirox (DFS) compared to Deferoxamine (DFO). METHODS: Spleen cells (SP) were obtained from 5 week-old C57/BL6 (H-2(b)). The cytotoxicity of ICAs was examined using the CCK8 method. For the cell proliferation assay, SP were cultured with irradiated in addition to 10, 50, 100micrometer of DFS or DFO and 200ng/mL of cyclosporin A (CSA). Cytokines and nitrite levels were evaluated from supernatants by ELISA. RESULTS: The viability of ICA was reported to be over 100%. Both DFS and DFO inhibited cell proliferation in a manner comparable to CSA. Cell proliferation without iron was reduced at the concentration of 100micrometer of DFO. With iron treatment, the reduction of the stimulation index was dependent on DFO concentrations. DFS decreased the proliferation without reference to the concentrations. After stimulation of phytohemagglutinin, the nitrite concentrations increased with iron. With lipopolysaccharides, the nitrite levels were higher in DFO with iron than control, but similar in DFS regardless of iron treatment. The levels of interleukin-2 were not different. Interleukin-10 was more abundantly produced in 50micrometer of DFO compared to DFS. Transforming growth factor-beta was higher in DFS than DFO at the low concentration, but opposite at the high concentration. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that both iron chelating agents possessed immune suppressive effects comparable to CSA. The immunosuppressive effect of DFS may be distinct from DFO. More experiments are required to determine the exact mechanism of the immunosuppressive effect of DFS.

Neonatal Spontaneous Gastric Perforation Caused by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Chorioamnionitis / 대한주산의학회잡지

We describe a case of spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation in a premature infant girl of 27(+1)- week gestational age with respiratory distress syndrome baby. The patient presented within postnatal 36 hours with abdominal distension, respiratory distress, and massive pneumoperitoneum on radiography. Ischemic perforation of the stomach tissues caused by an intrauterine infection from group B streptococcus chorioamnionitis was noted. This is the first report of a spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation caused by group B streptococcus chorioamnionitis in the literature.