Abstract

FORRELLAT BARRIOS, Mariela. Iron metabolism regulation: two systems, one goal. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.1, pp. 4-14. ISSN 1561-2996.

Human existence is indissolubly linked to iron, which is part of a wide variety of key enzymes such as catalase, aconitases, ribonucleotide reductase, peroxidases and cytochromes, exploiting the flexibility of its redox chemistry to run a large number of reactions essential for life. Human body has evolved to keep iron in different forms, including recycling after rupture of erythrocytes and the retention without excretion mechanism. Iron metabolism is balanced by two regulatory systems: one based on systemic hormone hepcidin protein export and ferroportin, and the other, which controls cell metabolism through the iron regulatory protein (IRP) binding to the mRNAs regulated iron regulatory elements (IRE). These systems work in a coordinated manner avoiding both deficiency and excess.

Keywords : iron metabolism; hepcidin; ferroportin; IRE/IRP system.

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