Hepcidin expression from monocyte of splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients with HbE-β-thalassemia

OBJECTIVE: Hepcidin is a key regulator of body iron homeostasis. The inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 has been reported to upregulate expression of the hepcidin (HAMP) gene in monocytes. The purpose of this work was to determine HAMP expression at steady state in monocytes of splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients with HbE-β-thalassemia compared with normal controls. METHODS: Levels of HAMP mRNA were measured using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Plasma IL-6, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and ferritin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and C-reactive protein (CRP) by nephelometry. RESULTS: Levels of HAMP mRNA, CRP, IL-6, sTfR, and ferritin were significantly higher in both groups of patients with thalassemia than controls, but were not different between splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients. Monocyte HAMP mRNA content of patients with thalassemia correlated with plasma IL-6 and CRP levels. DISCUSSION: Patients with HbE-β-thalassemia have persistent elevation of the plasma inflammatory cytokines, CRP, and IL-6, and the latter could be responsible (in part) to the induction of HAMP expression in monocytes of patients with HbE-β-thalassemia.