Iron accumulation and neurotoxicity in cortical cultures treated with holotransferrin

Nonheme iron accumulates in CNS tissue after ischemic and hemorrhagic insults and may contribute to cell loss. The source of this iron has not been precisely defined. After blood-brain barrier disruption, CNS cells may be exposed to plasma concentrations of transferrin-bound iron (TBI), which exceed that in the CSF by over 50-fold. In this study, the hypothesis that these concentrations of TBI produce cell iron accumulation and neurotoxicity was tested in primary cortical cultures. Treatment with 0.5-3 mg/ml holotransferrin for 24 h resulted in the loss of 20-40% of neurons, associated with increases in malondialdehyde, ferritin, heme oxygenase-1, and iron; transferrin receptor-1 expression was reduced by about 50%. Deferoxamine, 2,2′-bipyridyl, Trolox, and ascorbate prevented all injury, but apotransferrin was ineffective. Cell TBI accumulation was significantly reduced by deferoxamine, 2,2′-bipyridyl, and apotransferrin, but not by ascorbate or Trolox. After treatment with ⁵⁵Fe-transferrin, approximately 40% of cell iron was exported within 16 h. Net export was increased by deferoxamine and 2,2′-bipyridyl, but not by apotransferrin. These results suggest that downregulation of transferrin receptor-1 expression is insufficient to prevent iron-mediated death when neurons are exposed to plasma concentrations of TBI. Chelator therapy may be beneficial for acute CNS injuries associated with loss of blood-brain barrier integrity.