Iron is critical for almost all living organisms because it serves as a cofactor for many proteins and enzymes necessary for oxygen and energy metabolism. Disruption of iron homeostasis is associated with a wide range of diseases. Thus mammals have developed sophisticated mechanisms to maintain optimal range of iron concentration. Iron regulation involves processes at the systemic and cellular levels. These processes are regulated by hepcidin and iron regulatory proteins. Hepcidin modulates systemic iron homeostasis with ability to impede cellular iron export via interaction with the iron export protein, ferroportin. Whereas, iron regulatory proteins control cellular iron homeostasis by translational regulation of proteins which involve iron metabolism. Recent advances in the study of iron metabolism have shown promising results that hepcidin-targeted strategies may help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of iron related diseases. Although these strategies are now under development, ongoing studies can help to elucidate its application possibilities.
Diagnosis ; Energy Metabolism ; Hepcidins ; Homeostasis ; Iron Metabolism Disorders ; Iron* ; Iron-Regulatory Proteins ; Mammals ; Metabolism* ; Oxygen

The iron metabolism in the early stage of hookworm infestation was Studied. Ancylostoma caninum larvae were given to dogs in the massive number of 5,000-10,000, and the following results were observed. A decrease of tile hemoglobin level appeared as early as 2 days after the infection and the temporary decrease of the serum iron level were also observed in this early stage of infection. The serum iron level after the oral administration showed a slightly higher elevation in the infected group compared with the control. The amount of iron excretion from the bowel in the infected group was the same as that of the control. No hypoacidity of the gastric juice was observed in the infected group. Sideroblasts in the bone marrow showed a slight increase in the early stage of the infection, but decreased markedly towards the late stage. In the early stage of the infection there was no particular histopathological change in the small intestines, liver, or spleen. However, massive petechiae and an inflammatory process were observed in the lungs and the bone marrow showed increased proliferation. It was concluded that there was no significant inhibition of iron metabolism in the early stage of hookworm infestation.
Animals ; Dogs ; Hookworm Infections/*metabolism ; Iron/*metabolism

Animals ; Humans ; Iron ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Iron Overload

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of iron and phosphorus on Microcystis physiological reactions.

METHODSThe experimental conditions were chosen as the light dark cycles of 16 h 8 h, 12 h 12 h, and 8 h 16 h. The cell change of morphology and life history, cell number, cell color, and cell area of Microcystis were analyzed quantitatively. According to the resource competition and Monod equation, Microcystis kinetics of phosphorus and iron were also examined.

RESULTSThe longer light time caused more special cell division, slower growth rate, and easier change of bigger cell area. The color of alga was changed from green to brown. Ks and micromax of phosphorus absorption were 0.0352 mircomol x L(-l) and 0.493 d(-1), respectively. Those of iron absorption were 0.00323 micromol x L(-1) and 0.483 d(-1).

CONCLUSIONMicrocystis bloom is more dominant than other algae.

Iron metabolism is the process of absorption, transport, storage and conversion and excretion of the essential trace element iron in living organisms. Normal iron metabolism tightly regulates iron content at the systemic and cellular levels through a variety of related proteins to prevent excessive free radicals from being generated during the iron cycle that can damage the body. Various abnormalities in iron metabolism are found in a variety of lymphohaematopoietic tumours and an insidious link between iron metabolism and tumour development has been revealed. Serum ferritin levels and abnormalities of iron transport proteins, transferrin and their receptors can be used as prognostic indicators for lymphohematopoietic tumours and have opened up new directions of diagnosis and treatment, with a large number of novel drugs targeting tumours emerging to date. This article briefly describes the normal iron metabolism process and highlights the progress of research on abnormal iron metabolism in lymphohematopoietic tumors at the systemic and cellular levels.
Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism* ; Neoplasms ; Receptors, Transferrin/metabolism* ; Transferrin/metabolism*

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) become dependent on blood transfusions and develop into transfusional iron overload, which is exacerbated by increased absorption of dietary iron in response to ineffective erythropoiesis. However, it is uncertain whether there is an association among iron accumulation, clinical complications, and decreased likelihood of survival in MDS patients. Thereby our current understanding of the effects of transfusion dependency and iron overload in MDS are discussed. Particular emphasis should be placed on further characterizing the role of redox-active forms of labile iron and oxidative stress in iron overload, decreased life expectancy and increased risk of leukemic transformation in MDS patients with iron overload.
Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Overload ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Oxidative Stress

Objective: To analyze the rate of erythrocyte iron incorporation and provided guidance for the iron nutrition for prepubertal children. Methods: Fifty-seven prepubertal children of Beijing were involved in this study and each subject was orally administered 3 mg of Fe twice daily to obtain a total of 30 mg Fe after a 5-d period. The stable isotope ratios in RBCs were determined in 14th day, 28th day, 60th day, and 90th day. The erythrocyte incorporation rate in children was calculated using the stable isotope ratios, blood volume and body iron mass. Results: The percentage of erythrocyte Fe incorporation increased starting 14 th day, reached a peak at 60 d (boys: 19.67% ± 0.56%, girls: 21.33% ± 0.59%) and then decreased. The erythrocyte incorporation rates of Fe obtained for girls in 60th day was significantly higher than those obtained for boys ( < 0.0001). Conclusions The oral administration of Fe to children can be used to obtain erythrocyte iron incorporation within 90 d. Prepubertal girls should begin to increase the intake of iron and further studies should pay more attention to the iron status in prepubertal children.
Beijing ; Child ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Isotopes ; analysis ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Iron ; metabolism ; Metabolic Diseases

Hemochromatosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Iron Overload ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

Estrogen is a steroid hormone produced mainly by the ovaries. It combines with the nuclear receptors to exert the biological effects influencing the metabolism of body. Elevated levels of estrogen are often associated with altered iron levels in mammals. Furthermore, the findings of estrogen response element (ERE) have demonstrated that estrogen affects iron metabolism directly in peripheral tissues. In this review, we will briefly summarize the effect of estrogen on iron metabolism in mammals, and discuss recent progress in the mechanisms of estrogen on some iron related proteins in order to provide guidance for clinical use of estrogen. Estrogen and iron metabolism are closely related, but the exact regulatory mechanisms still need further exploration.
Animals ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Mammals ; Response Elements