The role of iron in the immune response to bacterial infection

• Published in: Immunologic research Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Author: Cherayil, Bobby J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Humana Press Inc 01.05.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allergology; Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections - immunology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cation Transport Proteins - metabolism; Communicable Diseases - immunology; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Homeostasis - immunology; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity; Immunity - immunology; Immunology; Infection; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammatory diseases; Internal Medicine; Intracellular Space - immunology; Iron; Iron - immunology; Medicine/Public Health; Metabolism; Nutrients; Pathogens; Reviews; Infection; Iron metabolism; Inflammation; Siderophore; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0257-277X; 1559-0755
• DOI: 10.1007/s12026-010-8199-1

My laboratory has been interested for some time in the influence of iron, a nutrient that is essential for both microbial pathogens and their mammalian hosts, on the course of infectious disease. Our studies indicate that alterations in the expression of host molecules that sequester or transport iron can have direct effects on pathogen growth and can also have an impact on the ability to mount normal immune responses. We have elucidated the mechanistic basis for some of these observations, and have started to apply our findings in strategies to control abnormalities of inflammation and iron metabolism. I will review here what we have learned about the interactions between iron and immunity and discuss the implications of the information that we have acquired.