Università Vita-Salute e IRCCS San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy.
Intern Emerg Med. 2010 Oct;5(5):393-400. doi: 10.1007/s11739-010-0387-4. Epub 2010 Apr 28.
Iron is essential for life, because it is indispensable for several biological reactions such as oxygen transport, DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, but is toxic if present in excess since it causes cellular damage through free radical formation. Either cellular or systemic iron regulation can be disrupted in disorders of iron metabolism. In the past few years, our understanding of iron metabolism and its regulation has dramatically changed. New disorders of iron metabolism have emerged and the role of iron has started to be recognized as a cofactor of other disorders. The study of genetic conditions such as hemochromatosis and iron-refractory-iron-deficiency anemia (IRIDA) has provided crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling iron homeostasis. In the future, these advances may be exploited for a more effective treatment of both genetic and acquired iron disorders.
铁对于生命来说是必不可少的，因为它是许多生物反应所必需的，如氧气运输、DNA 合成和细胞增殖，但如果过量存在，它也是有毒的，因为它会通过自由基的形成造成细胞损伤。铁代谢紊乱会导致细胞或全身铁调节紊乱。在过去的几年中，我们对铁代谢及其调节的理解发生了巨大的变化。新的铁代谢紊乱已经出现，铁的作用开始被认为是其他疾病的辅助因子。对遗传性疾病（如血色病和难治性缺铁性贫血（IRIDA））的研究为控制铁平衡的分子机制提供了重要的见解。在未来，这些进展可能会被用于更有效地治疗遗传性和获得性铁紊乱。
