Table II.
Distribution of α and β Hemoglobin Chains in Non-Erythrocyte Cells
| Hb chain | Cell type | Probable biological function | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| α and β | Type II alveolar cells | Unknown | (74,75) |
| α and β | Lens | Gene sharing; iron homeostasis; oxygen transporters/oxygen “sink”; denucleation of lens fiber cells | (76) |
| α and β | Mesangial cells of kidney glomeruli | Scavenging reactive oxygen species | (78) |
| α and β | Α9 neurons of mesocorticolimbic pathway; | Oxygen homeostasis, oxidative phosphorylation; GPCR activation | (79) |
| Neurons in striatum, SNC, cerebral cortex and hippocampus; | (80) | ||
| Dopaminergic neurons; | (69,79–81) | ||
| Cortical pyramidal neurons; | (80,81) | ||
| Striatal GABAergic projection neurons; | (80,81) | ||
| Ventral midbrain neurons | (79) | ||
| α and β | Sciatic nerve myelin | Sciatic nerve function and pathology | (83) |
| α1 and β | Oligodendrocyte precursors | Oligodendrocyte differentiation | (79) |
| βminor | Macrophage | Unknown | (77) |
GPCR, G-protein coupled receptor; GABA, gamma amino butyric acid; SNC; substancia nigra pars compacta