<i>L. amazonensis</i> infection causes iron accumulation and ferritin upregulation in macrophages.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Effect of <i>L. amazonensis</i> infection on H-ferritin (<i>FTH1</i>) transcript levels. BMDM were infected or not with axenic <i>L. amazonensis</i> amastigotes (<i>L.a</i>) for 1 h, washed and cultured at 34°C for another 24 or 48 h, followed by quantification of <i>FTH1</i> and <i>HPRT1</i> mRNA by qPCR. The values represent <i>FTH1</i> mRNA levels normalized to <i>HRPT1</i> (mean +/− SD of triplicates). (***) p<0.001 (unpaired Student's t test). (<b>B</b>) Effect of <i>L. amazonensis</i> infection on L-ferritin protein levels. BMDM infected or not with <i>L. amazonensis</i> axenic amastigotes (<i>L.a</i>) were solubilized after 24 or 48 h and analysed by Western Blot with anti-L-ferritin antibodies. Anti-actin antibodies were used as loading controls. L-ferritin/actin ratios were determined by quantitative digital imaging. The results shown are representative of at least 2 independent experiments.