IRON CHELATION AND TUMOR-CELL CALCIUM HOMEOSTASIS

The effects of iron chelation on calcium homeostasis of Ehrlich carcin oma cells were studied using Fe-59-ferric lactate and (CaCl2)-Ca-45. D esferrioxamine action on bound iron is characterized by the presence o f an insoluble fraction located deep in the cell membrane and another soluble fraction on the cell surface. The competitive binding dy album in suggests that the iron is bound by protein containing molecular str uctures of the cell. The modification of cellular calcium homeostasis induced by ferric lactate, which is a phenomenon inherent in cell inju ry, is not caused by lipid peroxidation. The role of iron-induced cell ular calcium homeostasis in carcinogenesis is discussed.