Regulation of iron uptake in primary culture rat hepatocytes: the role of acute-phase cytokines

Decreased serum and increased hepatic iron uptake is the hallmark of acute-phase (AP) response. Iron uptake is controlled by iron transport proteins such as transferrin receptors (TfRs) and lipocalin 2 (LCN-2). The current study aimed to understand the regulation of iron uptake in primary culture hepatocytes in the presence/absence of AP mediators. Rat hepatocytes were stimulated with different concentrations of iron alone (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 mM) and AP cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α) in the presence/absence of iron (FeCl3: 0.1 mM). Hepatocytes were harvested at different time points (0, 6, 12, 24 h). Total mRNA and proteins were extracted for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. A significant iron uptake was detected with 0.1 mM iron administration with a maximum (133.37 ± 4.82 µg/g of protein) at 24 h compared with control and other iron concentrations. This uptake was further enhanced in the presence of AP cytokines with a maximum iron uptake (481 ± 25.81 µg/g of protein) after concomitant administration of IL-6 + iron to cultured hepatocytes. Concomitantly, gene expression of LCN-2 and ferritin subunits (light- and heavy-chain ferritin subunits) was upregulated by iron or/and AP cytokines with a maximum at 24 h both at mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, a decreased TfR1 level was detected by IL-6 and iron alone, whereas combination of iron and AP cytokines (mainly IL-6) abrogated the downregulation of TfR1. An increase in LCN-2 release into the supernatant of cultured hepatocytes was observed after addition of iron/AP cytokines into the medium. This increase in secretion was further enhanced by combination of IL-6 + iron. In conclusion, iron uptake is tightly controlled by already present iron concentration in the culture. This uptake can be further enhanced by AP cytokines, mainly by IL-6.