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Iron transport and the kidney
Craig P Smith1, Frank Thévenod
1Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK. craig.smith@manchester.ac.uk
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|December 2, 2008
Summary
The kidney, previously overlooked for iron handling, expresses key iron homeostasis proteins. This suggests a conserved, important role for renal iron transport in mammals.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Hematology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Iron homeostasis research traditionally focused on the duodenum, liver, and reticulo-endothelial system.
- Recent expression profiling reveals iron homeostasis proteins are also present in less-studied tissues like the kidney.
- The kidney's role in iron handling has been largely disregarded despite its production of erythropoietin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for iron transporter expression in the kidney.
- To detail data on other iron homeostasis proteins expressed in renal tissue.
- To discuss the significance of renal iron transport in pathophysiological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on iron homeostasis proteins in the kidney.
- Analysis of expression profiling data for renal iron-related genes.
- Synthesis of existing data to propose a model of renal iron handling.
Main Results:
- Many proteins central to iron balance are expressed in the kidney of rats, mice, and humans.
- Some iron-related proteins are found in considerable amounts within renal tissue.
- Evidence supports the expression of iron transporters and other key iron homeostasis proteins in the kidney.
Conclusions:
- The kidney plays a significant, evolutionarily conserved role in iron handling.
- The presence of numerous iron homeostasis proteins implies a complex and important function for the kidney in iron metabolism.
- A hypothetical model for renal iron handling is proposed based on current evidence.
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