Cited by 209Iron Metabolism and DisordersNeurological diseases and metabolismTrace Elements in Health

The pivotal role of astrocytes in the metabolism of iron in the brain

Dringen, Ralf, Bishop, Glenda M., Koeppe, Maico, Dang, Theresa N., Robinson, Stephen R.·2007·Neurochemical Research

Abstract

Iron is essential for the normal functioning of cells but since it is also capable of generating toxic reactive oxygen species, the metabolism of iron is tightly regulated. The present article advances the view that astrocytes are largely responsible for distributing iron in the brain. Capillary endothelial cells are separated from the neuropil by the endfeet of astrocytes, so astrocytes are ideally positioned to regulate the transport of iron to other brain cells and to protect them if iron breaches the blood-brain barrier. Astrocytes do not appear to have a high metabolic requirement for iron yet they possess transporters for transferrin, haemin and non-transferrin-bound iron. They store iron efficiently in ferritin and can export iron by a mechanism that involves ferroportin and ceruloplasmin. Since astrocytes are a common site of abnormal iron accumulation in ageing and neurodegenerative disorders, they may represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of iron-mediated oxidative stress.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s11064-007-9375-0

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66 of 66 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Astrocytes are thought to play a key part in regulating brain iron absorption because their perivascular end-foot processes ensheath the abluminal membrane of the blood-brain barrier and form direct connections to neurons.

    “Because the perivascular end-foot processes of astrocytes ensheath the abluminal membrane of the blood–brain barrier25 and form direct connections to neurons, astrocytes are thought to play a key part in regulating brain iron absorption.18”

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Authors
Dringen, R., Bishop, G. M., Koeppe, M., Dang, T. N., & Robinson, S. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Bremen (DE)
  • Monash University (AU)
Corresponding author
Dringen, Ralf
Venue
Neurochemical Research
Published
2007-06-06
Volume
32
Issue
11
Pages
1884-1890
ISSN
  • 0364-3190 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6903
OpenAlex
W1977002167
Cited by
209
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 12
FWCI
1.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neurochemical Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological diseases and metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
Keywords
astrocytes, brain iron metabolism, iron transport, transferrin, hemin, non-transferrin-bound iron, ferritin, ferroportin, ceruloplasmin, blood-brain barrier, oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, aging, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Ferroportin, Animals, Astrocytes, Brain, Endothelium, Vascular, Iron, Receptors, Transferrin, Cation Transport Proteins

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