Inron is principally required for hemoglobin synthesis and its uptake, utilization and storge are cacefully regulated to ensure an adequate supply without excessive accumulation which could lead to toxicity and lung injury.
The present study aimed to measure the serum and sputum iron and ferritin and their role in pahtogenesis of some lung diseases e.g. bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
This study was carried out on three equal groups, each of 18patients (bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma) and a control group consisted of 18healthy males and females volunteers. this study was carried out in chest department of Benha university Hospital.
medical history, clinical examination, radiological examination, complete blood picture, liver function tasts, kidney function tasts, fasting blood sugar, ventilatory pulmonary function tasts and serum and sputum iron and ferrtin were done.
Our findings demonstrated that there is a significant increment in the levels of both iron and ferritin in serum and sputum of patients with bronchiectasis, and chronic bronchitis but with less degree of singnificance as regards the patients with bronchial aasthma in comparison with the bronchial asthma in comparison with the control group. Also, it was obvious that there is a significant difference between the smokers and non smokers groups.
The present findings also revealed that there is no significant difference between male and female patients. it was suggested from the present observations that, iron deposition in the lung is associated with tissue injury and fibrosis.
However, the first determinant in iron induced lung toxicity to remain in a free from. thus, the mobilization of iron from ferritin or mineral particles or release of iron from transferrin is associated with lung injury.
Free iron in the lung exerts toxic effects through its ability to catalyze highly reactive hydroxyl radicals from less reactive super- oxide and hydrogen peroxide via the fenton Haber-Weiss reactions and -or through its ability of stimulate fibrogenesis and to contribute in pathogenesis of other pulmonary defects e.g. bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.
in conclusion,our observations revealed that the presence of iron and ferritin in different lung compartments including sputum of patients with bronchiectasis,bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. iron and iron binding ferritin were present in high significant amounts in sputum and serum of the previously mentioned lung diseases and my be contributed in a major degree in pathogenesis and in inductionof many other lung disease.
there various options to enhance the lung antioxidant screen. one approach would be the molecular manipulation of antioxidant gene e.g. glutathione peroxidase.
the second approch would simply by to administer antioxidant theapy in cigarette smokers, pulmonary infection and in iron toxicity states e.g. vit. C and vit E.
recommendations:
1- the predisposing factors of pulmonary tissue oxidation must be avoided.
2- the iron and ferritin in serumand sputum can be continuchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis and they may have valuble diagnostic and prognostic values.
3-the exogenous administration of iron as a tonic must be controlled by normal physiological cellular requirements.
4-Extensive experimental and clinical investigations must be done to evalute the accurate effect of antioxidants and their possible role in protection against the toxic effect of oxidants.
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