Systemic iron handling

Systemic iron handling is a physiological process rather than a single molecular target, encompassing the coordinated regulation of iron absorption, transport, and storage to maintain homeostasis (Ganz, 2013, PMID: 23303907). The central regulator of this system is the liver-produced peptide hormone hepcidin, which controls iron entry into the plasma by binding to and degrading ferroportin, the only known cellular iron exporter (Muckenthaler et al., 2017, PMID: 28129542). Proper iron handling is critical for erythropoiesis, as the majority of daily iron flux is dedicated to hemoglobin synthesis in developing red blood cells (Camaschella, 2015, PMID: 25946282). Dysregulation of this system results in significant pathology, including iron-deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease (inflammation), and iron overload disorders like hereditary hemochromatosis (Ganz & Nemeth, 2012, PMID: 22343397). Pharmacological interventions target various nodes of this system, such as hepcidin mimetics (e.g., rusfertide) to treat iron overload or ferroportin inhibitors to manage iron distribution (Katsarou & Pantopoulos, 2020, PMID: 32708049). Monitoring systemic iron status involves clinical biomarkers like serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, which guide the use of iron supplements or chelators (Arezes & Nemeth, 2015, PMID: 26166583).

Other names

Systemic iron homeostasisIron metabolismHepcidin-ferroportin axisIron handling

Modulation of iron absorption, recycling, and storage through the regulation of the hepcidin-ferroportin axis and iron transport proteins.