Soyano A, Gómez M
Laboratorio de Patología Celular y Molecular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas.
Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1999 Sep;49(3 Suppl 2):40S-46S.
Experimental evidence in the last decades show that iron is a fundamental element for normal development of the immune system. Its deficiency affects the capacity to have an adequate immune response. The role of iron in immunity is necessary for immune cells proliferation and maturation, particularly lymphocytes, associated with the generation of a specific response to infection. The body has the capacity to reduce the iron availability to be consumed by infectious elements by proteins such as transferrin and lactoferrin. Also, iron is essential for the proliferation of bacteria, parasites, and neoplastic cells. Thus excess iron could potentially facilitate the development of infections and the invasion of tumoral cells. The immune system has bacteriostatic mechanisms that reduce the availability of the metal, interfering with bacterial growth. Additionally the system uses iron as the intermediary in the production of bacteriostatic cells.
过去几十年的实验证据表明，铁是免疫系统正常发育的基本元素。缺铁会影响产生充分免疫反应的能力。铁在免疫中的作用对于免疫细胞的增殖和成熟是必要的，尤其是淋巴细胞，这与对感染产生特异性反应相关。身体能够通过转铁蛋白和乳铁蛋白等蛋白质降低铁的可利用性，以减少被感染因子消耗。此外，铁对于细菌、寄生虫和肿瘤细胞的增殖至关重要。因此，铁过量可能会促进感染的发展和肿瘤细胞的侵袭。免疫系统具有抑菌机制，可降低金属的可利用性，干扰细菌生长。此外，该系统利用铁作为产生抑菌细胞的媒介。
