title: Human ferritin for tumor detection and therapy.
abstract: Ferritin, a major iron storage protein found in most living organisms, is composed of a 24-subunit protein cage with a hollow interior cavity. Serum ferritin serves as a critical marker to detect total body iron status. However, recent research reveals a number of novel functions of ferritin besides iron storage; for example, a ferritin receptor, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), has been identified and serum ferritin levels are found to be elevated in tumors. A particular new finding is that magnetoferritin nanoparticles, biomimetically synthesized using H-chain ferritin to form a 24-subunit cage with an iron oxide core, possess intrinsic dual functionality, the protein shell specifically targeting tumors and the iron oxide core catalyzing peroxidase substrates to produce a color reaction allowing visualization of tumor tissues. Here we attempt to summarize current research on ferritin, particularly newly identified functions related to tumors, in order to address current challenges and highlight future directions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, CAS-University of Tokyo Joint Laboratory of Structural Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Kelong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Lizeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xiyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D001052:Apoferritins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D010087:Oxides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C027293:ferritin receptor; C088922:magnetoferritin; D005293:Ferritins; D001052:Apoferritins; D007501:Iron