Cell: Under what circumstances will the iron in our body rise?

Iron is an essential element in the process of life, and it can combine with hemoglobin to transport oxygen.

At present, the clinical detection and diagnosis of iron overload are still insufficient, and the role of genetic factors in this process is unclear.

On February 18, 2021, the international academic journal Cell published an online study titled "A role of PIEZO1 in iron metabolism in mice and humans" by the Ardem Patapoutian team of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the United States.

Hereditary Xerocytosis (HX) is a rare disease caused by a gain-of-function (GOF) mutation in the PIEZO1 gene.

Delayed iron overload in GOF PIEZO1 mice

The researchers found that the dysregulation of macrophage-specific hepcidin is a key factor in the age-related iron overload of GOF PIEZO1 mice.

Pulse tracking experiment shows red blood cell turnover rate

Data shows that African Americans have higher serum iron levels.

Summary

All in all, this study clarified the physiological relevance of iron mechanical transduction in rare HX patients and transgenic mouse models, determined the genetic risk factors for iron overload in the African population, and proposed new ideas and research for iron deficiency treatment direction.

Original source:

Shang MaAdrienne E.