Iron is one of the most abundant metals on earth and is vital for the growth and survival of life forms. It is crucial for the functioning of plants and animals as it is an integral component of the photosynthetic apparatus and innumerable proteins and enzymes. It plays a pivotal role in haematopoiesis and affects the development and differentiation of different haematopoietic lineages, apart from its obvious necessity in erythropoiesis. A large amount of iron stores in humans is diverted towards the latter process, as iron is an indispensable component of haemoglobin. This review summarises the important players of iron metabolism and homeostasis that have been discovered in recent years and highlights the overall significance of iron in haematopoiesis. Its role in maintenance of haematopoietic stem cells, influence on differentiation of varied haematopoietic lineages and consequences of iron deficiency/overloading on development and maturation of different groups of haematopoietic cells have been discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.