Increased Plasma Ferritin Concentration and Low-Grade Inflammation—A Mendelian Randomization Study

Abstract

Increased plasma ferritin concentration as a marker of increased iron concentration is associated observationally and genetically with low-grade inflammation, possibly indicating a causal relationship from increased ferritin to inflammation. However, as may also play an immunological role indicating pleiotropy and as incomplete penetrance of C282Y/C282Y indicates buffering mechanisms, these weaknesses in the study design could bias the genetic estimates.

Expression Patterns of Muscle-Specific miR-133b and miR-206 Correlate with Nutritional Status and Sarcopenia

“…Here, significant positive and negative correlations were found between miR-133b and miR-206 levels and albumin and ferritin, respectively. Notably, decreased albumin and elevated ferritin levels are characteristic features of inflammation besides being markers of nutritional status [56][57][58]. Based on this evidence, inflammation, as well as oxidative stress, could represent factors connecting malnutrition, expression of myomiRs, and sarcopenia.…”

Multivariate genomic scan implicates novel loci and haem metabolism in human ageing

“…In the brain, abnormal iron homeostasis is commonly seen in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis 38 . Plasma ferritin concentration, a proxy for iron accumulation when unadjusted for plasma iron levels, has been associated with premature mortality in observational studies 39 , and has been linked to liver disease, osteoarthritis, and systemic inflammation in MR studies 40,41 .…”

PlGF and sFlt‐1 levels in patients with non‐transfusion‐dependent thalassemia: Correlations with markers of iron burden and endothelial dysfunction

“…We observed low‐grade inflammation in NTDT, substantiated by elevated hs‐CRP. That inflammatory state is remarkable because PlGF has been shown to promote a pro‐inflammatory response, and could therefore explain part of the relationship between iron overload and inflammation . Oxidative stress could be the mediating link between iron overload and inflammation.…”

“…That inflammatory state is remarkable because PlGF has been shown to promote a pro-inflammatory response, and could therefore explain part of the relationship between iron overload and inflammation. [19][20][21] Oxidative stress could be the mediating link between iron overload and inflammation. In previous studies, we measured markers oxidative stress in NTDT patients and found that non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI), Malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and red cell oxidized/reduced glutathione were significantly increased in NTDT as compared to healthy controls.…”