Iron content and acid phosphatase activity in hepatic parenchymal lysosomes of patients with hemochromatosis before and after phlebotomy treatment

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Ultrastruct. Pathol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3109/01913128809058215· OSTI ID:7066545

Cleton, M I; de Bruijn, W C; van Blokland, W T; Marx, J J; Roelofs, J M; Rademakers, L H

Lysosomal structures in liver parenchymal cells of 3 patients with iron overload and of 3 subjects without iron-storage disorders were investigated. A combination of enzyme cytochemistry--with cerium as a captive ion to demonstrate lysosomal acid phosphatase activity--and electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) was used. We were able (1) to define and quantify lysosomal structures as lysosomes, siderosomes, or residual bodies, (2) to quantify the amount of iron and cerium simultaneously in these structures, and (3) to evaluate a possible relation between iron storage and enzyme activity. With histopathologically increased iron storage, the number of siderosomes had increased at the cost of lysosomes, with a corresponding increase in acid phosphatase activity in both organelles. In histopahtologically severe iron overload, however, acid phosphatase activity was low or not detectable and most of the iron was stored in residual bodies. After phlebotomy treatment, the number of siderosomes had decreased in favor of the lysosomes, approaching values obtained in control subjects, and acid phosphatase activity was present in all iron-containing structures. In this way a relationship between iron storage and enzyme activity was established. The iron content of the individual lysosomal structures per unit area had increased with histopathologically increased iron storage and had decreased after phlebotomy treatment. From this observation, it is concluded that the iron status of the patient is not only reflected by the amount of iron-containing hepatocytes but, as well, by the iron content lysosomal unit area.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Utrecht (Netherlands)
• OSTI ID: 7066545
• Journal Information: Ultrastruct. Pathol.; (United States), Vol. 12:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
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ACID PHOSPHATASE
ENZYME ACTIVITY
HEMIC DISEASES
PATHOGENESIS
IRON
METABOLISM
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
LIVER
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CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
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ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
GLANDS
HYDROLASES
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
PHOSPHATASES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
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