title: Iron homeostasis: a new job for macrophages in adipose tissue?
abstract: Elevated serum ferritin and increased cellular iron concentrations are risk factors for diabetes; however, the etiology of this association is unclear. Metabolic tissues such as pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue (AT), as well as the immune cells resident in these tissues, may be involved. Recent studies demonstrate that the polarization status of macrophages has important relevance to their iron-handling capabilities. Furthermore, a subset of macrophages in AT have elevated iron concentrations and a gene expression profile indicative of iron handling, a capacity diminished in obesity. Because iron overload in adipocytes increases systemic insulin resistance, iron handling by AT macrophages may have relevance not only to adipocyte iron stores but also to local and systemic insulin sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Merla J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hubler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. Electronic address: alyssa.hasty@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Alyssa H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hasty
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: adipose tissue; inflammation; iron; macrophage.