Figure 5. VIT-2763 decreased serum iron and prevented liver iron loading in Hbb^th3/+ mice.

(A) VIT-2763 significantly decreased serum iron levels in Hbb^th3/+ mice 3 hours after oral dosing at study day 36. (B) Total liver iron concentration remained unchanged following 36 days of treatment with VIT-2763. (C) VIT-2763 prevented liver ⁵⁸Fe loading in Hbb^th3/+ mice. (D) VIT-2763 reduced the relative spleen weight of Hbb^th3/+ mice. (E) Effect of VIT-2763 on total spleen iron content. (A–E) x axis labels: 1, vehicle; 2, VIT-2763 (30 mg/kg); 3, VIT-2763 (100 mg/kg). Individual values and mean ± SD are shown. Statistical analysis was performed by comparing all treatment groups to the Hbb^th3/+ vehicle group using 1-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. n = 10–12. (F) Representative photographs from H&E (left) and DAB-enhanced Perls staining (right) in spleen sections from vehicle-treated (top) or VIT-2763-treated (100 mg/kg, middle) Hbb^th3/+ mice and vehicle-treated WT mice (bottom). Shown are representative photographs from 10 to 12 mice per group and 3 sections from each spleen. Scale bars: 1 mm in originals, 100 μm in enlargements. ***P < 0.001.