Assessment of labile plasma iron and hepcidin in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantion

• Grant number: 12/19015-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Breno Pannia Esposito
• Grantee: Breno Pannia Esposito
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Flávio Augusto Naoum

Abstract

Patients undergoing myeloablative conditioning for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may present iron overload due to underutilization (suppression of erythropoiesis) and release from liver and bone marrow cells (toxicity). There is a concern that forms of free and reactive iron can be involved in the occurrence of toxicity and complications commonly observed in the early setting of HSCT. Labile plasma iron (LPI) represent the toxic fraction of iron and includes the redox active forms that are amenable to chelation. Recently, hepcidin was described is a major regulator protein of iron metabolism. In order to better understand the predictors and mechanisms involved with iron overload and redistribution in HSCT, we will determine LPI and hepcidin in 30 consecutive patients undergoing HSCT. Fasting samples will be taken before (baseline) and after conditioning at least 3 times a week until engraftment. LPI will be determined by a fluorogenic method that monitores generation of reactive radicals prompted by ascorbate but blocked by iron chelators, and hepcidin will be determined by ELISA. Mean levels will be compared and correlated among collecting points and clinical predictors. We estimate a total period of 4 months for completion data analysis and final report. (AU)