Release of ferrous iron from ferritin by liver microsomes: a possible role in the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Nonheme iron is synergistic with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in producing hepatotoxicity in mice. Fe2+ rather than Fe3+ is the probable toxin and we speculated that TCDD, an inducer of microsomal electron transport, might favour reduction of iron. We have defined a system which will release Fe2+ from ferritin (Fe3+) under anaerobic conditions and in the presence of added flavin mononucleotide (FMN). The rate of reduction iron was …