Iron-regulatory proteins: molecular biology and pathophysiological implications.
Iron is required for key cellular functions, and there is a strong link between iron metabolism and important metabolic processes, such as cell growth, apoptosis and inflammation. Diseases that are directly or indirectly related to iron metabolism represent major health problems. Iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs) 1 and 2 are key controllers of vertebrate iron metabolism and post-transcriptionally regulate expression of the major iron homeostasis genes. Here we discuss how dysregulation of the IRP system can result from both iron-related and unrelated effectors and explain how this can have important pathological consequences in several human disorders.
Institute of General Pathology, University of Milan School of Medicine, Milan, Italy. gaetano.cairo@unimi.it
Gaetano
G
Cairo
Stefania
S
Recalcati
D000818:Animals; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019189:Iron Metabolism Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035925:Iron-Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020218:Response Elements; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism
D035925:Iron-Regulatory Proteins; D015262:Xenobiotics; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron