MECHANISMS OF THE ADJUVANT EFFECT OF HEMOGLOBIN IN EXPERIMENTAL PERITONITIS .5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COORDINATED IRON COMPONENT

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 86  (1) , 41-48
Abstract
Adjuvant effects of Hb, methemoglobin, hematin and ferric nitrilotriacetate (FENTA) on the lethality of Escherichia coli peritonitis in rats were compared. The functional importance of coordinated Fe was affirmed. Hematin simulated the Hb effect when administered on an Fe-equivalent basis and hematoporphyrin was inactive at the same levels as hematin. The effects of Hb and methemoglobin were virtually identical, suggesting that the oxidation state of the metallic center is immaterial and analyses of peritoneal contents during lethal peritonitis promoted by either adjuvant revealed insignificant interconversions of these compounds. Saturation of systemic Fe-binding capacity could not be detected during lethal E. coli-Hb peritonitis and deliberate saturation of systemic transferrin by infusions of i.v. FENTA did not enhance the adjuvant effect of Hb. The adjuvant effect of i.p. administered FENTA was effectively nullified by simultaneous i.p. deferoxamine injection but the same maneuver had no effect on Hb potency. The adjuvant effect of Hb in experimental peritonitis is functionally dependent on the Fe component but cannot be explained by a non-heme Fe flux.

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