Transferrin and its receptor: their roles in cell function

Transferrin, its receptor and the entry of iron into the cell have sprung into prominence because of recent evidence that proliferation of various cell types involves regulation of this sequence of events, as evidenced especially by changes in receptor number. A third component functionally linked to transferrin and its receptor is the intracellular iron-storage protein, ferritin, which ensures against toxic levels of free ferrous iron, which might otherwise cause peroxidative damage to cell membranes and other cell structures (1). In this article, we shall focus on interactions between these three proteins of iron exchange, their roles in homeostasis and especially their role in relation to the liver which is a major organ of iron storage.