FTH1 and hydrops fetalis: Thus, the finding of increased protein levels of FTL and FTH and a decrease in TfR1 protein levels in concert with a decrease in the binding activity of IRP-IRE in HF fibroblasts strongly supports the notion of a failure of ferritin in its iron storage function in HF fibroblasts, leading to an increase in FTL and FTH1 translation and degradation of TfR1 mRNA.