Effect of nitric oxide on iron metabolism in rats with anemia of chronic disease / 中国实验血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

To explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis and effect on regulation of iron metabolism in anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and provide experimental evidence for prevention and treatment of ACD. On the basis of traditional animal model of rheumatoid arthritis, an ACD rat model was established by repeated injection of Freund's complete adjuvant. The relationship between NO concentration and iron metabolism was observed in ACD rats with and without NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, (N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester L-NAME). The results showed that anemia was induced in the rat model. In the ACD group, NO concentration and NO synthase activity in serum increased; iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TS) in serum and ferritin in erythrocytes (rFn) decreased; transferrin receptor (TfR) and iron in bone marrow cells decreased; ferritin in serum and iron in liver increased and meanwhile the acotinase activity in liver decreased. After administration of L-NAME, anemia was improved, when NO, NO-synthase activity, liver iron and serum ferritin decreased, but serum iron, TS, TIBC, rFn, TfR, iron in marrow cells and liver acotinase activity elevated. The levels of parameters for iron metabolism in ACD + L-NAME group were situated between ACD and control groups. It is concluded that NO plays an important role in pathogenesis of ACD and influences the regulation of iron in ACD. Decrease of NO level as early as possible will benefit to block the development of anemia, that will provide a new strategy of therapy for ACD.