Journal
MICROORGANISMS
Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040589
Keywords
ferritin; inflammation; infection; host-directed therapy
Categories
Funding
- National Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia/Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior [PTDC/IMI-MIC/1683/2014]
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [PTDC/IMI-MIC/1683/2014] Funding Source: FCT
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Iron is an essential element for virtually all cell types due to its role in energy metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis and cell proliferation. Nevertheless, if free, iron induces cellular and organ damage through the formation of free radicals. Thus, iron levels must be firmly controlled. During infection, both host and microbe need to access iron and avoid its toxicity. Alterations in serum and cellular iron have been reported as important markers of pathology. In this regard, ferritin, first discovered as an iron storage protein, has emerged as a biomarker not only in iron-related disorders but also in inflammatory diseases, or diseases in which inflammation has a central role such as cancer, neurodegeneration or infection. The basic research on ferritin identification and functions, as well as its role in diseases with an inflammatory component and its potential as a target in host-directed therapies, are the main considerations of this review.
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