Review Articles
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2025): Review Articles, Original Article, Scientific Letter, Case Reports Letter to the Editor
OUTLINE OF IRON METABOLISM, WITH EMPHASIS TO ERYTHROID CELLS
iron Metabolism
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: August 31, 2025
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Iron is required for several vital biological processes in all human cells. In mammals, a considerable number of proteins are involved in iron metabolism and utilize iron in many essential cellular processes, such as oxygen transport, mitochondrial respiration, gene regulation and DNA synthesis or repair. Iron metabolism is a complex system finely regulated at both systemic and cellular levels. It involves the development of specialized mechanisms for iron absorption, transport, recycling, storage and export, and protection against toxic compounds that can be generated during iron redox cycling in the presence of oxygen.
The erythropoietic compartment consumes the majority of iron to support the high demand for hemoglobin synthesis. A tightly regulated system enables efficient iron uptake by erythroid cells and its subsequent processing for the synthesis of large amounts of heme, which is then incorporated into hemoglobin. A bidirectional regulatory system between erythropoiesis and iron metabolism ensures precise coordination between the two processes. This regulation is often disrupted in various anemic conditions.
Keywords : Iron; Ferritin; Ferroportin; DMT1; Hepcidin
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“OUTLINE OF IRON METABOLISM, WITH EMPHASIS TO ERYTHROID CELLS: iron Metabolism” (2025) Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 17(1), p. e2025067. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2025.067.
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