Regulation of erythropoietin production in a human hepatoblastoma cell line

Production of immuno and biologically active erythropoietin was documented to occur in the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG-2. The expression of the erythropoietin gene was further verified by Northern blot analysis using a single stranded RNA probe. In vitro studies showed that erythropoietin production by these cells was not stimulated by hypoxia or cobalt chloride, but was related to the proliferative activity of the cells in culture. In addition it was found that the secretion of erythropoietin was almost completely abrogated by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. This effect of tunicamycin was also observed in a permanently transfected cell line that secretes erythropoietin in large quantities.     

Hemosiderosis due to excessive intake of iron

Summary A ten-year-old boy presenting with lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly was found to have hemosiderosis on a lymphnode biopsy. Investigations revealed that he had ingested excessive amounts of iron leading to hemosiderosis. Other causative factors were excluded. After omission of further iron ingestion, the child improved. From the Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 1–6.