Globin Synthesis in Iron-deficiency Anemia

Abstract

The α to β globin chain ratio has been determined in the peripheral red cells of 11 patients with iron deficiency anemia. The mean ratio was found to be 0.74 ± 0.07, which is significantly lower than the ratio of 0.97 ± 0.07 obtained in normals. When the stroma-free hemolysates were purified prior to globin preparation the α to β ratio did not change. On the other hand, globin extracted from whole iron-deficient cells, including the stroma, had a higher α to β ratio, 0.88 ± 0.04, but still significantly lower than normal. These results suggest that in iron deficiency there is a decrease in α-chain synthesis relative to β-chain and that there are membrane-bound globin chains, but no excessive increase in the free α-chain pool. Similar findings have been reported previously in other states of heme deficiency like sideroblastic anemia and lead poisoning.

Reduced Hemoglobin Concentration and Red Cell Hemoglobinization in Italian Marathon and Ultramarathon Runners

“…The depletion of iron stores in distance runners (15) has been related to increased iron loss through hematuria (4, 19, 31), hemoglobinuria (22, 29, 32), myoglobinuria (2), and sweating (36) or to increased iron re-quirements for the augmented synthesis of the muscular iron-containing proteins (5,21,23). It is tempting to link the reduced iron availability with a diminished heme synthesis (40) and a consequent reduction of hemoglobin synthesis (3,17,38,42). Interestingly, a depletion of iron stores occurs not only in northern European athletes but also in the Italian athletes studied despite their Mediterranean diet, which is presumably richer in iron content (8).…”