Iron induced RNA-oxidation in the general population and in mouse tissue

Vanja Cejvanovic*, Laura Kofoed Kjær, Helle Kirstine Mørup Bergholdt, Arendse Torp-Pedersen, Trine Henriksen, Allan Weimann, Christina Ellervik, Henrik Enghusen Poulsen

*Corresponding author for this work
8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Iron promotes formation of hydroxyl radicals by the Fenton reaction, subsequently leading to potential oxidatively generated damage of nucleic acids. Oxidatively generated damage to RNA, measured as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo) in urine, is increased in patients with genetic iron overload, which have led us to test the hypothesis that high iron status, assessed by iron biomarkers and genetic disposition, increases urinary excretion of 8-oxoGuo. In a general Danish population study we used a Mendelian randomization design with HFE genotypes as a proxy for iron status and supplemented with ex vivo experiments in mice muscle tissue exposed to iron(II) sulfate to attempt to clarify this hypothesis. The biomarkers ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin saturation (TS) were associated with 8-oxoGuo (in linear univariable and multivariable regression analyses: P < 0.001). Mendelian randomization indicated a causal pathway between genetically elevated iron biomarkers (assessed by ferritin and TS) and high levels of 8-oxoGuo. The ex vivo experiments showed a monotonically increase in 8-oxoGuo with increased iron concentration (ANOVA: P = 0.0008) that was prevented with iron chelation (P = 0.01). Our results indicate a causal relationship between iron biomarkers and 8-oxoGuo. Furthermore, the ex vivo experiment shows a mechanistic link between iron and 8-oxoGuo formation. Both iron overload and the biomarker 8-oxoGuo have been linked to e.g. diabetes, which merits future studies to investigate if iron induced 8-oxoGuo is involved in disease development.

Original languageEnglish
JournalFree Radical Biology and Medicine
Volume115
Pages (from-to)127-135
Number of pages9
ISSN0891-5849
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • 8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine
  • 8-dihydroguanosine
  • 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine
  • 8-hydroxyguanosine
  • 8-oxo-7
  • C282Y
  • Ferritin
  • H63D
  • Hemochromatosis
  • HFE
  • Instrumental variable analysis
  • Iron
  • Iron overload
  • Mendelian randomization
  • Oxidative stress
  • Transferrin
  • Transferrin saturation

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