What is the difference between ferritin and apoferritin?
Ferritin is a globular protein complex consisting of 24 protein subunits forming a hollow nanocage with multiple metal–protein interactions. Ferritin that is not combined with iron is called apoferritin.
What is normal ferritin level for female?
The normal range for blood ferritin is: For men, 24 to 336 micrograms per liter. For women, 11 to 307 micrograms per liter.
What is the role of apoferritin?
Apoferritin is a protein commonly present in the intestinal mucosa membrane. The important biological function of apoferritin is its ability to bind and store iron, by combining with a ferric hydroxide–phosphate compound to form ferritin.
What is the treatment for Hyperferritinemia?
If a patient has an elevated ferritin level and is not a typical C282Y homozygote, the treatment options include observation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liver biopsy, empirical phlebotomy, or voluntary blood donation.
What liver diseases cause high ferritin levels?
An elevated serum ferritin level is associated with some chronic liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,4 steatosis caused by HCV, and liver fibrosis progression5 and is also related to HCV treatment outcome.
In what form is iron in apoferritin?
The important biological function of apoferritin is its ability to bind and store iron, by combining with a ferric hydroxide–phosphate compound to form ferritin.
Where is transferrin found?
the liver
Transferrin is a protein synthesized almost exclusively in the liver and is secreted into the blood. It is the principal transport protein for iron throughout the body and delivers approximately 70% to the bone marrow for incorporation into hemoglobin within RBCs.
What is high transferrin?
High transferrin means the liver is producing more of the protein to use all the iron available in the body. Low transferrin level means the body is absorbing more iron then needed. The results of a typical transferrin test are reported in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL).
What is low transferrin?
Low transferrin in plasma indicates iron overload, which means the binding site of transferrin is highly saturated with iron. Iron overload suggests hemochromatosis, which will lead to the deposition of iron on tissues.
How is transferrin created?
The liver synthesizes transferrin and secretes it into the plasma. Transferrins are produced locally in the testes and CNS. These two sites are relatively inaccessible to proteins in the general circulation (blood:testis barrier, blood:brain barrier).
What are symptoms of high ferritin levels?
Symptoms of excess ferritin include:
- stomach pain.
- heart palpitations or chest pains.
- unexplained weakness.
- joint pain.
- unexplained fatigue.