Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2025
12:38
Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism
Published on: December 18, 2013
6.2K
Iron homeostasis and organismal aging
Rola S Zeidan1, Sung Min Han1, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh1
1Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Ageing Research Reviews
|November 12, 2021
Summary
Iron is vital for body functions, and its regulation impacts aging and longevity. Dysregulated iron metabolism is linked to age-related diseases, offering therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
- Physiology
Background:
- Iron is essential for physiological processes, including red blood cell function and enzyme activity.
- Iron homeostasis is tightly regulated at systemic, cellular, and molecular levels.
- Modulators of iron homeostasis are increasingly linked to organismal aging and longevity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of iron homeostasis mechanisms.
- To discuss the impact of aging on iron metabolism.
- To explore the connection between dysregulated iron metabolism and aging-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on iron homeostasis and aging.
- Analysis of molecular, cellular, and systemic mechanisms regulating iron balance.
- Discussion of the association between iron dysregulation and age-related pathologies.
Main Results:
- Aging affects iron homeostatic processes, leading to dysregulation.
- Altered iron metabolism is associated with age-related conditions like neurodegeneration and bone resorption.
- Understanding iron's role in aging may reveal therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
Conclusions:
- Iron homeostasis is intricately linked to the aging process.
- Dysregulation of iron metabolism contributes to age-related pathologies.
- Targeting iron metabolism pathways may offer novel therapeutic approaches for aging and associated diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Aging
320
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
320
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
2.9K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
2.9K
01:37Mitochondria
15.6K
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
15.6K
01:10Homeostatic Imbalance
29.6K
Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within the body, which is crucial for the proper functioning of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. The body has various control mechanisms that work together to regulate various physiological parameters such as temperature, blood pressure, pH balance, and fluid balance, to name a few. These control mechanisms are based on feedback loops that can be either positive or negative.
However, sometimes these feedback loops fail,...
However, sometimes these feedback loops fail,...
29.6K
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
19
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
19
00:57The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
191.3K
Overview
191.3K