On Iron Metabolism and Its Regulation

Abstract

Iron is a critical metal for several vital biological processes. Most of the body’s iron is bound to hemoglobin in erythrocytes. Iron from senescent red blood cells is recycled by macrophages in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Dietary iron is taken up by the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) in enterocytes and transported to portal blood via ferroportin (FPN), where it is bound to transferrin and taken up by hepatocytes, macrophages and bone marrow cells via transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). While most of the physiologically active iron is bound hemoglobin, the major storage of most iron occurs in the liver in a ferritin-bound fashion. In response to an increased iron load, hepatocytes secrete the peptide hormone hepcidin, which binds to and induces internalization and degradation of the iron transporter FPN, thus controlling the amount of iron released from the cells into the blood. This review summarizes the key mechanisms and players involved in cellular and systemic iron regulation.

Self-amplification of oxidative stress with tumour microenvironment-activatable iron-doped nanoplatform for targeting hepatocellular carcinoma synergistic cascade therapy and diagnosis

“…However, traditional iron delivery nanomaterials may cause significant side effects when applied in vivo as they are mainly transported through enhanced permeability and retention effects [ 37 ]. Transferrin is an endogenous protein that ferries Fe 3+ to cells overexpressing the transferrin receptor [ 38 ]. As HCC cells have abnormal iron metabolism, they overexpress transferrin receptors [ 39 ].…”

In <i>Vivo</i> Hypoglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extracts of <i>Chasmanthera dependens</i> in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice

“…Severe copper deficiency in infants results in pathological bone fractures (cross-links collagen), cardiovascular disorders (cross-links soluble elastin and collagen) and emphysema-like lung condition which are associated with reduced activity of a copper dependent enzyme lysyl oxidase [27]. It can also cause neurological problems such as ataxia, seizures and episodic apnea which could be caused by lack of myelination leading to reduced nerve cell formation during embryonic development [28].…”

Immunoaffinity Capillary Electrophoresis in the Era of Proteoforms, Liquid Biopsy and Preventive Medicine: A Potential Impact in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Disease Progression

“…Figure 7A depicts the analysis of transferrin using the ELISA method, and Figure 7B depicts the analysis of transferrin using the IACE method. Transferrin (Tf) is an abundant serum metal-binding protein that delivers iron through blood circulation to cells [239][240][241]. Studies of congenital atransferrinemia in mice and humans highlight the essential role of transferrin in erythropoiesis and iron metabolism.…”