Effect of Ferric Sorbitol Citrate (FSC) Administration on NF‐κB in Macrophages and Spleen Cells of Rats

Abstract

Interaction of iron metabolism and the immune system is complex and pathological changes in one system affect the other. Ferric sorbitol citrate (FSC), non‐toxic compound of ferric ions with sorbitol and citrate, has immunomodulatory effect in treated mice. We investigated an effect of FSC on NF‐κB expression/activation in peritoneal macrophages and spleen cells of rats. TNF‐α concentrations in sera of control and FSC intraperitoneal (i.p.) treated Wistar rats were measured by ELISA. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages (PM) were counted and splenocytes were isolated. PM and splenocytes were lysed and their cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions were separated by centrifugation. The influence of FSC on NF‐κB expression and/or activity as well as expression of its inhibitor IκB‐α was measured by Western blot. 1.5 and three hours after FSC treatment TNF‐α level in sera was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased. Activation of transcription factor NF‐κB in PM was detected three hours after treatment, followed by significant increment in PM number. In splenocytes NF‐κB was activated six and 48 hours after FSC application. The results indicate that, after i.p. application, FSC acts as a modulator of the immune system activating NF‐κB in PM. PM consequently secrete TNF‐α that activates NF‐κB in splenocytes.

Key Words :

• Ferric sorbitol citrate
• NF‐κB expression/activation
• Peritoneal macrophages
• Spleen cells