Macrophage iron content and Lcn2 expression as a function of Hfe genotype. Thioglycolate-elicited primary peritoneal macrophages were isolated from mice of the indicated genotypes grown under control conditions or infected with WT Salmonella Typhimurium (S Tm). The total cellular iron content was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (A,C,D) and normalized for protein content. The transcriptional expression of genes contributing to macrophage transmembrane iron fluxes was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and normalized for Hprt expression (B). Iron export from WT and Hfe^−/− macrophages was determined in ⁵⁹Fe-transport studies. Data from 3 to 5 independent experiments were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Bonferroni correction or Kruskal-Wallis test, with statistical significance as indicated. Values are depicted as lower quartile, median, and upper quartile (boxes); minimum/maximum ranges (A-D); or as mean ± SEM (E), respectively.