Cited by 843Iron Metabolism and DisordersFerroptosis and cancer prognosisTrace Elements in Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 96 of the 100 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 88 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Iron homeostasis in host defence and inflammation

Open access
Ganz, Tomas, Nemeth, Elizabeta·2015·Nature Reviews Immunology

Abstract

Iron is an essential trace element for multicellular organisms and nearly all microorganisms. Although iron is abundant in the environment, common forms of iron are minimally soluble and therefore poorly accessible to biological organisms. Microorganisms entering a mammalian host face multiple mechanisms that further restrict their ability to obtain iron and thereby limit their pathogenicity. Iron levels also modulate host defence, as iron content in macrophages regulates their cytokine production. Here, we review recent advances that highlight the role of systemic and cellular iron-regulating mechanisms in protecting hosts from infection, emphasizing aspects that are applicable to human health and disease.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/nri3863

Cites

96 of 96 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Claims the paper makes

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Show all 45 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 36
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 6
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
38 of 38
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most microorganisms depend absolutely on exogenous iron for survival.

    “Given the absolute dependence of most microorganisms on exogenous iron for their survival, it has been assumed that the hypoferraemia of infection and inflammation has a host defence function.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Iron is essential for nearly all microorganisms.

    “Iron is also essential for nearly all microorganisms, plants and invertebrate animals, in which it functions as a catalytic component of enzymes that mediate many redox reactions that are crucial for energy production and intermediary metabolism.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Non-transferrin-bound iron can amplify tissue injury by catalysing extracellular ROS production or by rapid cellular uptake causing iron overload and secondary ROS.

    “Moreover, non-transferrin-bound iron can amplify tissue injury either because it catalyses the extracellular production of injurious reactive oxygen species (ROS) or because it is rapidly taken up some cell types, causing cellular iron overload with the secondary generation of ROS.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Malarial parasites require iron at both the liver and erythrocyte stages.

    “The parasites require iron at both the liver and the erythrocyte stage.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Iron deficiency is endemic in tropical regions.

    “The possibility that iron deficiency, which is endemic in tropical regions, may be protective against certain infections has also been raised.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Hepcidin acts on ferroportin to shift iron into macrophages.

    “In addition to hepcidin — the effects of which on ferroportin cause redistribution of iron into macrophages —”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Lactoferrin, unlike transferrin, keeps binding iron at the low pH found in inflamed and infected tissues.

    “Lactoferrin is a homologue of the iron carrier protein transferrin but differs from transferrin by continuing to bind iron even at low pH, which is common in inflamed and infected tissues.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Siderocalin binds iron only when it is complexed with small natural organic chelators.

    “Siderocalin, a member of a family of proteins that contain a pocket (calyx) for small mostly hydrophobic molecules, binds iron when it is complexed with small natural organic chelators.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Haptoglobin and haemopexin carry free haemoglobin and haem, respectively, to macrophages and hepatocytes for degradation.

    “Haptoglobin and haemopexin are carrier proteins that transport free haemoglobin and haem, respectively, for degradation by macrophages and hepatocytes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    NRAMP1 is a ferrous iron transporter located in phagocytic vacuole membranes of macrophages and neutrophils.

    “NRAMP1 is a ferrous iron transporter found in the membranes of phagocytic vacuoles of macrophages and neutrophils.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Red blood cells are by far the richest source of iron.

    “Erythrocytes are by far the richest source of iron”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most microorganisms depend exquisitely on iron.

    “the exquisite dependence of most microorganisms on iron”
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Metadata

Authors
Ganz, T., & Nemeth, E.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • University of California System (US)
Corresponding author
Ganz, Tomas
Venue
Nature Reviews Immunology
Published
2015-07-10
Volume
15
Issue
8
Pages
500-510
ISSN
  • 1474-1733 (ISSN-L)
  • 1474-1741
OpenAlex
W1570067866
Cited by
843
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 89 · 2025: 78 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 75 · 2022: 103 · 2021: 81 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 63 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 7
FWCI
9.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • CYTED Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK107309)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
Keywords
iron homeostasis, nutritional immunity, host defense, inflammation, iron limitation, infection, macrophages, cytokine production
MeSH terms
Animals, Bacterial Infections, Gene Expression Regulation, Homeostasis, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Inflammation, Iron, Macrophages, Signal Transduction, Cytokines, Nonheme Iron Proteins, Iron-Binding Proteins, Iron-Regulatory Proteins

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