GATA1 PROTEIN AND IRON PROFILE OF HIV-INFECTED SUBJECTS IN UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR TEACHING HOSPITAL, CALABAR, NIGERIA

Enosakhare Asemota; Deborah Akpeku; Christopher Ogar; Osamagbe Aiyudubie Asemota; Dennis Akongfe Abunimye; Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1531

Enosakhare Asemota Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Deborah Akpeku Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Technology, Calabar, Nigeria.
Christopher Ogar Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Osamagbe Aiyudubie Asemota Department of Pediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Dennis Akongfe Abunimye Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu Division of Haematology, Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Zimbabwe. Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1531

Keywords:

Erythropoiesis, ferritin, GATA1, HIV, iron profile, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and aims: HIV infection is associated with alterations in iron metabolism and transcription factors such as GATA1. This study evaluated GATA1 protein, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TSAT) of HIV-infected subjects in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Subjects and methods: A total of 90 participants were recruited, comprising 45 HIV-infected subjects on HAART and 45 apparently healthy HIV negative Individuals as controls. Four milliliters of venous blood were collected from each participant and dispensed into plain tubes for serum separation. Serum samples were analyzed for GATA 1 Protein, Iron parameters (Serum Iron (SI), Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), Unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), and Transferrin saturation (TSAT) were using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and colorimetric methods. Statistical analyses, including Student’s t-test, Analysis of Variance and Pearson’s correlation were performed using SPSS version 22 with significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Serum iron levels were markedly elevated in HIV subjects (183.11±46.59 µg/dl) compared with controls (106.33±25.41 µg/dl; p<0.001). Conversely, UIBC (231.11±32.63 µg/dl vs. 327.53±36.76 µg/dl; p<0.001) and TIBC (414.13±19.14 µg/dl vs. 433.09±24.01 µg/dl; p<0.001) were significantly reduced in HIV subjects. TSAT was substantially higher in HIV-infected participants (43.88± 9.38%) compared to controls (24.64±6.29%; p<0.001). GATA1 protein levels showed no significant difference between groups (0.78±1.57 ng/ml vs. 0.69±2.21 ng/ml; p=0.243).

Conclusion: HIV-infected individuals on HAART demonstrated significant alterations in iron metabolism, particularly higher serum iron and transferrin saturation, alongside reduced TIBC and UIBC which suggest dysregulation of Iron homeostasis. Although GATA 1 protein level did not differ significantly, these findings suggest that HIV infection may influence erythropoiesis and iron regulation independent of GATA1 protein.