Ferritin: An Inflammatory Player Keeping Iron at the Core of Pathogen-Host Interactions

Abstract

Iron is an essential element for virtually all cell types due to its role in energy metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis and cell proliferation. Nevertheless, if free, iron induces cellular and organ damage through the formation of free radicals. Thus, iron levels must be firmly controlled. During infection, both host and microbe need to access iron and avoid its toxicity. Alterations in serum and cellular iron have been reported as important markers of pathology. In this regard, ferritin, first discovered as an iron storage protein, has emerged as a biomarker not only in iron-related disorders but also in inflammatory diseases, or diseases in which inflammation has a central role such as cancer, neurodegeneration or infection. The basic research on ferritin identification and functions, as well as its role in diseases with an inflammatory component and its potential as a target in host-directed therapies, are the main considerations of this review.

Viral MicroRNAs Encoded by Nucleocapsid Gene of SARS-CoV-2 Are Detected during Infection, and Targeting Metabolic Pathways in Host Cells

“…Gene dysregulation and impaired iron metabolism may be one of the factors associated with iron overload and high ferrittinemia observed in COVID-19 patients [ 61 ]. The presence of free and excess iron results in the generation of free radicals and damage to different tissues and organs [ 62 ]. On the other hand, a defect in the uptake and utilization of iron may lead to hypoferremia causing increased hospitalization and high oxygen demand [ 63 ] that leads to respiratory distress syndrome, the main clinical feature seen in patients with severe COVID-19 [ 64 ].…”

Protective Action of L. salivarius SGL03 and Lactoferrin against COVID-19 Infections in Human Nasopharynx

“…The presence of lactoferrin itself and its anti-inflammatory properties perfectly harmonize with anti-viral activities. The important role of lactoferrin is to calm down the cytokine storm, which is the main cause of the rapid course of COVID-19 [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 57 , 79 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 ]. It can be also used to treat osteoporosis because it reduces osteolysis—the destruction of bone cells [ 134 ].…”

“…Iron chelators, such as lactoferrin, are generally safe and protect patients from iron overload by exerting immunomodulatory effects by binding to coronavirus receptors, blocking their entry into host cells [ 118 , 119 ]. Literature data show that iron chelators have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects [ 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ], which is of high therapeutic value during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, various therapies are used to treat COVID-19 that work on the immune system [ 124 , 125 ].…”

Transcriptome analysis of Macrobrachium rosenbergii hepatopancreas in response to Vibrio harveyi infection

“…This suggests that ferritin is a downregulated transcript under Vibrio challenge in prawns. This is significant as ferritin is considered as an inflammatory player at the core of host–pathogen interactions (Moreira et al., 2020). Contrary to the results obtained in the present study, ferritin was found upregulated in various tissues in response to bacterial challenge or lipopolysaccharide stimulation (Chen et al., 2018; Liu, Li, et al., 2007; Martinez et al., 2017).…”