title: 'Ride on the ferrous wheel'--the cycle of iron in macrophages in health and disease.
abstract: Iron homeostasis and macrophage biology are closely interconnected. On the one hand, iron exerts multiple effects on macrophage polarization and functionality. On the other hand, macrophages are central for mammalian iron homeostasis. The phagocytosis of senescent erythrocytes and their degradation by macrophages enable efficient recycling of iron and the maintenance of systemic iron balance. Macrophages express multiple molecules and proteins for the acquisition and utilization of iron and many of these pathways are affected by inflammatory signals. Of note, iron availability within macrophages has significant effects on immune effector functions and metabolic pathways within these cells. This review summarizes the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of macrophage iron metabolism and highlights its relevant consequences on immune function and in common diseases such as infection and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: manfred.nairz@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nairz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroll
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tancevski
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Theurl
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: guenter.weiss@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000151:congenital; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: Anemia of chronic disease; Anemia of inflammation; Infection; Iron; Macrophage; Nutritional immunity