Objective: To explore the relationship between transferrin receptor (TfR) expression and cell proliferation capacity and iron metabolism status.
Methods: The binding site numbers and dissociation constant (Kd) of TfR of leukemic cells were assayed by radio-ligand binding assay.
Results and conclusion: The binding site numbers of TfR were (7.826 +/- 6.054) x 10(4) sites/cell in ALL group and (20.406 +/- 17.876) x 10(4) sites/cell in AML group, and the Kds of TfR were (6.468 +/- 4.777) nmol/L and (8.683 +/- 4.890) nmol/L, respectively. The binding sites of TfR were significantly less in complete remission group than in relapsed or dead groups. There was a positive relationship between the TfR binding sites and the 3H-TdR incorporation in the leukemic cells (AML and ALL) and in the phytohemagglutinin stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells. In both ALL and AML group, the SF, CF were higher and Tf, TIBC were lower than those in control group. TfR binding sites were positively correlated with SF and CF, and negatively with Tf.