From the Guidelines
Transferrin is a blood protein that plays a crucial role in transporting iron throughout the body, binding to iron in the intestines and carrying it to various tissues and organs, including the bone marrow where red blood cells are produced. Transferrin binds to iron in the intestines, where iron is absorbed from food, and carries it through the bloodstream to various tissues and organs that need iron. Each transferrin molecule can bind two iron atoms, and normally about 30% of transferrin is saturated with iron. The liver produces most of the body's transferrin, and levels can be measured through blood tests to assess iron status, as seen in patients with hypotransferrinemia due to a TF defect, where transferrin supplementation is recommended 1.
Some key points about transferrin include:
- It is essential for normal iron metabolism because free iron is toxic to cells and can generate harmful free radicals
- By binding iron, transferrin prevents this toxicity while ensuring that this vital mineral reaches the tissues that require it for functions such as hemoglobin production and oxygen transport
- Low transferrin saturation may indicate iron deficiency, while high saturation can suggest iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis, highlighting the importance of monitoring iron status in patients with hypotransferrinemia due to a TF defect 1.
In the context of hypotransferrinemia, transferrin supplementation by either plasma transfusion or apotransferrin infusion is recommended to manage the condition and prevent toxic iron loading, as stated in the practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of microcytic anemias due to genetic disorders of iron metabolism or heme synthesis 1.
From the Research
Definition and Function of Transferrin
- Transferrin is the main iron transporter, delivering iron to target tissues like the bone marrow for erythropoiesis 2.
- It prevents the formation of reactive oxygen species by binding free iron 2.
- Transferrin plays a crucial role in maintaining systemic iron homeostasis as a component of a plasma iron sensing system that modulates hepcidin expression 3.
Role in Iron Metabolism
- Transferrin is involved in the regulation of iron transport and uptake by cells 3, 4.
- It acts as a growth factor, with both early and late effects on cell growth and differentiation 4.
- Transferrin has a trophic effect on several cell types, and its growth-stimulating properties can be segregated from its role in iron transport 4.
Clinical Applications
- Transferrin supplementation may be beneficial in correcting anemia and reducing oxidative stress in conditions of iron overload 2.
- Transferrin saturation can be used as a diagnostic criterion for iron deficiency, particularly in combination with ferritin levels 5.
- Transferrin has potential therapeutic applications in a wide variety of conditions, including lung injury, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and hypomyelination 2.
- It may also play a role in the development of targeted drug delivery systems for the treatment of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease 6.