High levels of tumor necrosis factor-α downregulate antimicrobial iron transport protein, Nramp1, in chronic hemodialysis patients: a key factor for infection risk.

Background/aims: The susceptibility of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) to infections is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1) regulates intracellular pathogen proliferation, and its mRNA expression is highest in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). The purpose of this study was to determine the level of Nramp1 in PMNLs from MHD patients and the factors affecting its expression.