Iron and heme Flashcards
small RBCs is a clue for what type of iron dysfunction?
uptake dysfunction
what is the mechanism of the Fenton reaction?
- oxygen picks up electron from iron or copper
- iron / copper oxidized
- superoxide anion or hydroxyl radical produced
what are the active forms of iron?
Hb, Mb, cytochromes
iron is transported by what protein?
transferrin
what is the inactive form of iron?
ferritin
what is the degenerated, long term storage of iron?
hemosiderin
what cells are the gatekeepers of iron uptake?
enterocytes
what is the role of divalent methyl transporter (DMT)?
uptake of iron 2+
what is the role of cytochrome B on the enterocyte?
reduces Fe 3+ to 2+ for uptake
inside the cell, iron is protected by what protein?
ferritin
what is the role of ferroportin?
determines how much iron will be released from enterocyte into circulation
what is the role of hepcidin?
downregulates activity of ferroportin - blocks uptake of iron
what is the role of hephaestin?
oxidizes iron 2+ to 3+ to be taken up by ferritin in the circulation
iron is taken up into other cells by what mechanism?
transferrin receptors
the presence of hemosiderin indicates what condition?
iron overload
in a hemolytic disorder involving destruction of RBCs inside macrophages, what happens to the ferritin?
accumulates then degrades to hemosiderin
what is the main regulator of iron uptake?
hepcidin
how does low hepcidin affect iron uptake?
high uptake