A Versertile Biomarker for Diagnostic Ferritin

Ferritin, derived from Latin 'ferratus' (iron-bearing), was discovered by Victor Laufberger in 1937 in a horse's spleen [1]. It is the only known protein complex capable of storing large amounts of iron and serves as a crucial indicator of iron levels in the human body.

The Significance of Iron and Ferritin

Iron's exceptional capacity to donate and accept electrons is crucial for a range of essential biological functions, including DNA synthesis and repair, oxygen transport, cellular respiration, heme synthesis, and immune responses. It is a key element in the life processes of all living organisms.

Ferritin, an iron carrier protein found in many life forms, is regulated post-transcriptionally by iron levels via iron-responsive elements in mRNA. High iron increases ferritin expression, while deficiency inhibits it. Ferritin levels indicate various diseases, serving as diagnostic markers.

Ways to Improve the Level of Ferritin

The primary treatment methods include dietary therapy and drug therapy, including: 

●Animal-derived foods: such as animal liver, duck blood, fish, shrimp, shellfish, lean pork, beef, mutton, eggs.

●Plant-based foods: such as spinach, celery leaves, tomatoes, cherries, pineapples.

●Inorganic chalybeate: such as ferrous sulfate.

●Organic chalybeate: such as dextran iron, ferrous gluconate, polysaccharide iron complex.

Clinical Applications of Disease Diagnosis

01 Iron Deficiency Anemia

As we all know the fact that iron is an essential component of haemoglobin in red blood cells and of myoglobin in muscles, which contain around 60% of total body iron[2]. Therefore, iron deficiency will cause a shortage of raw materials for hemoglobin, resulting in anemia, which is called iron deficiency anemia.

02 Acute Infectious Diseases

By the 1970s, it was discovered that ferritin level rises during acute inflammatory conditions. During acute infections, cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α have been demonstrated to trigger the release of ferritin into the bloodstream. Additionally, it is noteworthy that ferritin has also acted as a marker for disease severity and a prognostic indicator in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic[3].

03 Tumor 

Ferritin is frequently overexpressed in various cancers. Several in vitro studies have demonstrated that cancer cells from multiple malignancies release ferritin or similar compounds[4]. A cohort study has linked increased serum ferritin to a higher risk of hepatoma and high ferritin level has also been shown to predict mortality in pancreatic cancer patients. In summary, the overexpression of ferritin in cancers suggests its potential roles in both disease progression and as a diagnostic indicator.

Getein’s Solutions for Ferritin Testing

The detection of ferritin is now available in both POCT and CLIA platform. In the future, Getein will continue to safeguard human health and well-being with comprehensive products and professional services!

Reference:

[1] Arosio P, Elia L, Poli M. Ferritin, cellular iron storage and regulation[J]. IUBMB Life, 2017, 69(6): 414-422.

[2] Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall I C, et al. Iron deficiency anaemia[J]. The Lancet, 2016, 387(10021): 907-916.

[3] Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, et al. Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China[J]. JAMA, 2020, 323(11): 1061.

[4] Gray C P, Franco A V, Arosio P, et al. Immunosuppressive effects of melanoma-derived heavy-chain ferritin are dependent on stimulation of IL-10 production[J]. International Journal of Cancer, 2001, 92(6): 843-850.