title: Macrophages and Iron Metabolism.
abstract: Iron is a transition metal that due to its inherent ability to exchange electrons with a variety of molecules is essential to support life. In mammals, iron exists mostly in the form of heme, enclosed within an organic protoporphyrin ring and functioning primarily as a prosthetic group in proteins. Paradoxically, free iron also has the potential to become cytotoxic when electron exchange with oxygen is unrestricted and catalyzes the production of reactive oxygen species. These biological properties demand that iron metabolism is tightly regulated such that iron is available for core biological functions while preventing its cytotoxic effects. Macrophages play a central role in establishing this delicate balance. Here, we review the impact of macrophages on heme-iron metabolism and, reciprocally, how heme-iron modulates macrophage function.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal. Electronic address: mpsoares@igc.gulbenkian.pt.
authors.forename: Miguel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal & Avian Sciences and Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006418:Heme; D007501:Iron