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Increased leucocyte apoptosis in transfused β‐thalassaemia patients
Author(s) -
Walter Patrick B.,
Porter John,
Evans Patricia,
Kwiatkowski Janet L.,
Neufeld Ellis J.,
Coates Thomas,
Giardina Patricia J.,
Grady Robert W.,
Vichinsky Elliott,
Olivieri Nancy,
Trachtenberg Felicia,
Alberti Daniele,
Fung Ellen,
Ames Bruce,
Higa Annie,
Harmatz Paul
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.12076
Subject(s) - deferasirox , deferoxamine , apoptosis , medicine , dna fragmentation , deferiprone , chelation therapy , hematology , immunology , caspase 3 , gastroenterology , blood transfusion , thalassemia , programmed cell death , biology , biochemistry
Summary This exploratory study assessed apoptosis in peripheral blood leucocytes ( PBL ) from β‐thalassaemia patients receiving chronic transfusions and chelation therapy (deferasirox or deferoxamine) at baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months. At baseline, thalassaemic PBL s presented 50% greater levels of Bax ( BAX ), 75% higher caspase‐3/7, 48% higher caspase‐8 and 88% higher caspase‐9 activities and 428% more nucleosomal DNA fragmentation than control subjects. Only neutrophils correlated significantly with apoptotic markers. Previously, we showed that over the treatment year, hepatic iron declined; we now show that the ratio of Bax/Bcl‐2 ( BCL 2), (−27·3%/year), and caspase‐9 activity (−13·3%/year) declined in both treatment groups, suggesting that chelation decreases body iron and indicators of PBL apoptosis.