Figure 5.

Transferrin bound and non-transferrin bound iron impairs T cells proliferation and promotes apoptosis. Splenocytes isolated from tumor-naive C57Bl/6N mice were stimulated with plate-bound anti-CD3 antibodies and supplemented with iron in the form of holo-transferrin (transferrin bound iron, TBI), ferric chloride FeCl₃, ferric sulfate Fe₂(SO₄)₃, or ferric citrate FeC₆H₅O₇ (non-transferrin bound iron, NTBI). BrdU incorporation and cell cycle distribution in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells was measured by flow cytometry (A–C) and IFNγ concentration in culture supernatant was determined by Multiplex 72 h after culture start (D). Statistical significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA for each iron source. Each point represents mean with SEM from n = 3 independent experiments.