Cited by 89Iron Metabolism and DisordersFerroptosis and cancer prognosisImmune cells in cancer

‘Ride on the ferrous wheel’ – The cycle of iron in macrophages in health and disease

Nairz, Manfred, Schroll, Andrea, Demetz, Egon, Tancevski, Ivan, Theurl, Igor, Weiss, Günter·2015·Immunobiology

Abstract

Iron homeostasis and macrophage biology are closely interconnected. On the one hand, iron exerts multiple effects on macrophage polarization and functionality. On the other hand, macrophages are central for mammalian iron homeostasis. The phagocytosis of senescent erythrocytes and their degradation by macrophages enable efficient recycling of iron and the maintenance of systemic iron balance. Macrophages express multiple molecules and proteins for the acquisition and utilization of iron and many of these pathways are affected by inflammatory signals. Of note, iron availability within macrophages has significant effects on immune effector functions and metabolic pathways within these cells. This review summarizes the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of macrophage iron metabolism and highlights its relevant consequences on immune function and in common diseases such as infection and atherosclerosis.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.imbio.2014.09.010

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  • These data support the general idea that modulation of macrophage iron homeostasis is a promising way to control their immune functions and alter myeloid-driven disease processes in infection, auto-immunity, atherosclerosis, and possibly cancer.

    “These novel and exciting data support the general idea that the modulation of macrophage iron homeostasis is a promising way to control their immune functions and alter myeloid-driven disease processes in infection, auto-immunity, atherosclerosis, and possibly also cancer [143, 167]”
  • The functional form of Nramp1 in myeloid cells shifts the balance in T helper cell activity towards Th1, which may increase resistance to infections while increasing susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.

    “In addition, the functional form of Nramp1 in myeloid cells shifts the balance in T helper cell activity towards Th1, which may increase resistance to infections while increasing the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases [167, 226].”
  • Monocytes/macrophages deliver approximately 95% of the iron required for de novo heme/hemoglobin synthesis during erythropoiesis.

    “Monocytes/macrophages (Mø) play a central role in the maintenance of Fe homeostasis, delivering approximately 95% of the Fe required to support de novo heme/hemoglobin synthesis during erythropoiesis [48,49] (Fig 1).”

    From The Iron age of host–microbe interactions (2015) · cites this paper as [48]

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Authors
Nairz, M., Schroll, A., Demetz, E., Tancevski, I., Theurl, I., & Weiss, G.
Affiliations
Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
Corresponding author
  • Nairz, Manfred
  • Weiss, Günter
Venue
Immunobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-02
Volume
220
Issue
2
Pages
280-294
ISSN
0171-2985 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2009433296
Cited by
89
References
244
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 2
FWCI
1.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Immunobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Austrian Research Funds
  • EU-7th framework (EUROCALIN)
  • Medical University of Innsbruck
  • Verein zur Förderung von Forschung und Weiterbildung in Infektiologie und Immunologie an der Medizinischen Universität Innsbruck
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune cells in cancer
Keywords
iron homeostasis, macrophage polarization, erythrophagocytosis, heme degradation, iron recycling, inflammation, macrophage metabolism, infection, atherosclerosis
MeSH terms
Anemia, Hemolytic, Animals, Homeostasis, Humans, Immunity, Inflammation, Iron, Macrophages, Neoplasms, Mononuclear Phagocyte System, Iron Overload, Immunomodulation

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