title: Iron and hepatic carcinogenesis.
abstract: Iron is an essential co-factor for life; however, a physiologically optimal balance is critical. Too much or too little iron can have detrimental effects on human health. In this article, we explore the relationships between iron and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Iron can act as a modulating co-factor in a range of chronic liver diseases and can accelerate the development of liver injury, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately HCC. Iron can, however, also act as a sole factor in the causation of liver cirrhosis and HCC in individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). We overview the regulation of normal iron metabolism and the role of iron in wound healing and associated cell types as well as in pathophysiologies that predispose to HCC. We review how these injury processes are inextricably linked, providing a mechanistic basis for understanding how iron and hepatic injury potentially result in HCC.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Perth, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Fremantle Australia.
authors.forename: Janina E E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tirnitz-Parker
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glanfield
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Olynyk
authors.forename: Grant A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ramm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000502:physiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007501:Iron