Lapinsky, Stephen. E.2018-07-182018-07-181989https://hdl.handle.net/10539/25046A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science in MedicineFerritin is an iron storage protein, made up of heavy (H) and light (L) subunits. Ferritin synthesis is regulated at a post transcriptional level by iron, which induces a redistribution of ferritin mRNA from a free cytoplasmic pool to polyribosomes. Inflammatory states influence iron metabolism, causing a decrease in serum iron levels associated with an increase in reticuloendothelial ferritin synthesis and iron storage.enRNAFerritinsIronMetabolismThesis