Iron Homeostasis in Healthy Kidney and its Role in Acute Kidney Injury

Summary: Iron is required for key aspects of cellular physiology including mitochondrial function and DNA synthesis and repair. However, free iron is an aberration because of its ability to donate electrons, reduce oxygen, and generate reactive oxygen species. Iron-mediated cell injury or ferroptosis is a central player in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury. There are several homeostatic proteins and pathways that maintain critical balance in iron homeostasis to allow iron's biologic functions yet avoid ferroptosis.

Source: Seminars in Nephrology - December 31, 2018 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Yogesh Scindia, PhD, Joseph Leeds, MD, Sundararaman Swaminathan, MD Source Type: research