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The role of transferrin and citrate in cellular uptake of aluminium

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Summary

The ability of human erythroleukaemia K562 cells to take up aluminium from Al-transferrin and Al-citrate has been examined. Uptake from Al-transferrin was dose-dependent over the range 68–544 ng/ml of aluminium, and increased over a 12-day period. In contrast, uptake from Al-citrate was low even at an aluminium concentration of 6800 ng/ml and did not increase over time. Neither form of aluminium greatly affected cell growth. It is concluded that Al-transferrin, rather than Al-citrate, is the physiologically relevant form of this metal with respect to cellular uptake, but that any metabolic abnormalities induced by aluminium do not affect proliferation of this cell line.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Immunology, Western Infirmary, G11 6NT, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    Sheila J. McGregor & Jeremy H. Brock

  2. Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, G4 0SF, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    David Halls

Authors
  1. Sheila J. McGregor
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  2. Jeremy H. Brock
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  3. David Halls
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McGregor, S.J., Brock, J.H. & Halls, D. The role of transferrin and citrate in cellular uptake of aluminium. Biol Metals 4, 173–175 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01141310

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01141310

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