Ferritin in the red cells of normal subjects and patients with iron deficiency and iron overload

Red cell ferritin was measured in normal subjects and patients with iron deficiency and iron overload by means of radioimmunoassays with antibodies to liver (basic) and heart (acidic) ferritins. In most of the subjects examined, red cells were found to contain greater amounts of heart-type than liver-type ferritin. The basic ferritin content reflected the abnormal body iron status both in iron deficiency and iron overload while the acidic ferritin content was less closely related to the iron status. The two immunologically different red-cell ferritins probably represent distinct ferritin molecules and may have different metabolic functions within haem-synthesizing erythroid cells.