The influence of gallium and other metal ions on the uptake of non-transferrin-bound iron by rat hepatocytes.

Background: Under conditions of iron overload non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) occurs in the circulation and is mainly cleared by the liver. Beside iron, gallium and aluminum enhance accumulation of NTBI. We try to characterize the mechanism and metal-mediated regulation of NTBI uptake using cultivated primary rat hepatocytes.