Upregulation of transferrin receptor 2 and ferroportin 1 mRNA in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Iron accumulation has been reported to be associated with progression of liver injury. The mechanism of iron accumulation in the liver is not known. In the present study, hepatic messenger RNA (mRNA) expression oftransferrin receptor(TfR)1,TfR2, andferroportin(FP)1was measured in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH).Eleven patients with CH-B and 43 patients with CH-C were enrolled. All patients underwent liver biopsy. Hepatic expression ofTfR1,TfR2andFP1mRNA was analyzed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Total hepatic iron score (THIS) was evaluated by Prussian blue staining.Serum ferritin concentration is significantly higher in CH-C than in CH-B. Values of THIS of≥5 were observed only in CH-C patients (44% of CH-C patients). The expression level ofTfR2mRNA was 10–26-fold higher than theTfR1mRNA expression level. TheTfR2andFP1mRNA expression was significantly higher in CH-C than in CH-B patients. Hepatic expression ofTfR2andFP1mRNA was well correlated with THIS.Hepatic iron accumulation is more severe in patients with CH-C. Upregulation of hepatic iron transporters may contribute to the hepatic iron accumulation in CH-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]