Abstract
The effects of iron and iron-binding proteins on Fc- and C3-receptor function of human monocytes were examined. Human peripheral blood monocytes were obtained as adherent cells on a cover glass after isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from heparinized venous blood by Conray-Ficoll gradients. Human O type red cells coated with anti-D antibody (IgG) or with third complement component were used as indicator cells for EA or EC rosette formation. The co-culture of human monocytes with 1mM concentration of ferric citrate for 7 days but not for 1 hour gave rise to the significant decrease of both Fc- and C3-receptor function of the cells. None of the other concentrations of ferric citrate (0.01, 0.1mM) and iron-binding proteins (transferrin and lactoferrin, 10-6M) had any effect on both of receptor function of monocytes cultured for 1 hour or 7 days.
