IRON-METABOLISM AND OXIDATIVE STRESS DURING ACUTE AND CHRONIC PHASES OF EXPERIMENTAL INFLAMMATION - EFFECT OF IRON-DEXTRAN AND DEFEROXAMINE

Iron overload induces a rise in lipid peroxidation, but there are no d ata on the effects of iron administered in vivo on the production of f ree radicals by inflammatory cells. Further, there is lack of agreemen t about the benefits of deferoxamine (Dfx) in the treatment of anemia and oxidative stress during inflammation and chronic diseases, In this study, iron-dextran (Fe-dextran) or Dfx was administered subcutaneous ly during the acute and chronic phases of carrageenan-induced granulom a, Several parameters related to iron metabolism, inflammatory cell ac tivity, and lipid peroxidation were measured in liver, plasma, and the inflammatory exudate, Treatment with Fe-dextran increased iron conten t in plasma and in stores, increased production of superoxide anion (O -2(-)) by inflammatory cells and lipid peroxidation, and also altered the inflammatory process, Dfx mobilized iron from stores without modif ying essential parameters related to anemia or to the level of lipid p eroxidation induced by inflammation, We conclude that treatment with F edextran had a beneficial effect on recovery from the anemia of inflam mation, Nevertheless, the high levels of loosely-bound iron found afte r Fe-dextran treatment in plasma and in exudate contribute to the incr ease in oxidative stress. Dfx treatment had no effect on anemia or on lipid peroxidation.