Systemic iron metabolism: a review and implications for brain iron metabolism.
Mammalian cells and organisms coordinate to regulate expression of numerous proteins involved in the uptake, sequestration, and export of iron. When cells in the systemic circulation are depleted of iron, they increase synthesis of the transferrin receptor and decrease synthesis of the iron sequestration protein, ferritin. In iron-depleted animals, expression of duodenal iron transporters markedly increases and intestinal iron uptake increases accordingly. The major proteins of iron metabolism in the systemic circulation are also expressed in the central nervous system. However, the mechanisms by which iron is transported and distributed throughout the central nervous system are not well understood. Iron accumulation in specific regions of the brain is observed in several neurodegenerative diseases. It is likely that misregulation of iron metabolism is important in the pathophysiology of several human neurodegenerative diseases.
Rouault
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Section on Human Iron Metabolism, Cell Biology and Metabolism Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Disease, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006211:Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007501:Iron