The effect of acute liver damage on circulating ferritin levels in vivo and in the isolated perfused rat liver

The effects of minimal acute liver injury on circulating ferritin levels have been examined in the rat both in vivo and in the isolated perfused liver. Liver damage produced by 6 mmol/kg of D-galactosamine (GalN) in vivo resulted in a marked rise in plasma ferritin levels 4 h after administration, 2 h before any significant increase in plasma aspartate transaminase. In the isolated perfused liver, damage produced by 5mM GalN introduced into the perfusate also produced an early increase in circulating ferritin before any evidence of release of intracellular enzymes, or alteration in liver histology as assessed by light microscopy was apparent. It is concluded that minimal acute liver damage results in a pronounced increase in circulating ferritin levels before other evidence of liver dysfunction. This is unlikely to be due solely to increased release from damaged cells but may rather result from an alteration in the mechanism responsible for ferritin homeostasis.