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Thanks Willie, I haven't come across any papers demonstrating the affectivness of iron depletion in controlling microorganisms - in vitro, but I am pretty sure someone has done such work.
Hepcidin was first isolated by Park et al - "Hepcidin, a urinary antimicrobial peptide synthesised in the liver. J Biol Chem. 2001; 9:397-403. During studies of antimicrobial properties of various human body fluids. In the course of their study one of their urine donors developed systemic infection and it was observed then that the hepcidin concentration increased X100 fold. This and subsequent studies have clearly demonstrated hepcidins role in "inflammtion".
Hepcidin or the lack of it's functionality also plays an important role in the developement of hemachromatosis, it has been shown that hepcidin knock out mice develope severe hemachromatosis, which is a disease charcterised by iron
overload.
Of relevance to our previous discussion on toxic metals, Lead poisoning mainly causes peripheral neuropathy, abdominal pain, anemia and encephalopathy. Lead inhibits many enzyme systems, and effects several stages of haem biosynthesis including the final step of incorporating iron into the protoporphorin ring, hence leading to a decreased capacity of haem to carry out its important function of carrying around oxygen.
Tests that may be helpful in demonstraing lead toxicity:
1. Tests demonstrating the presence of excess lead: Blood lead, chelatable lead excretion, urinary lead.
2. Tests demonstrating the toxic effects of lead....(maybe for our people up at Tolakuma, we should do this, ...or maybe it has been done all
ready, prehaps Sylvester can clarify). If we do this we confirm that not only are the levels of lead in the water system and blood samples are high, but they are also afecting the health of those exposed people.
These tests include:
PBG synthase activity
Urinary ALA and coprporphyrin
Zinc protoporphyrin.
These can be done as a follow up study, , ...next step.. (if not already done).
Sampla ting ting.
On another note but related, I still disagree that we should wait till afetr the. I don't believe evrything should come to a standing halt just because of the elections.
mol william <w_mol2003@...> wrote:
mol william <w_mol2003@...> wrote:
Poyap, interesting topic & good summary there.
We have discussed it briefly before. Anyway, I would like
to ask: as you said, it is one of the body's defence
mechanisms to rid or at least control the growth of
invading pathogens. In chronic infections despite all
these mechanisms, the infection still persists. So my
question is; how effective is this 'anemia' in controlling
infection. Have you come across some papers that prove
clearly using in vitro experiments, its effectiveness.
Infact, it would be possible to do such experiment in
vitro. Culture, say any pathogen (TB bacteria etc.) &
apply different amount of iron & also deplete iron & study
the bugs' growth patterns. I know there are some culture
medium rich in blood or iron (blood agar etc.).
The value of hepcidin agonists as a therapy is very
interesting, but what do you think about the
non-specificness. I mean hepacidin agonist would reduce
iron absorption from the gut so the entire body is
depleted of iron & not only the invading bugs.
Any other thoughts on this interesting topic?
William
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