Astrocytes are considered key regulators of the iron metabolism of the brain. These cells are able to rapidly accumulate iron ions and various iron-containing compounds, store iron efficiently in ferritin and also export iron. The present short review summarizes our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the handling of iron by astrocytes. Cultured astrocytes efficiently take up iron as ferrous or ferric iron ions or as haem by specific iron transport proteins in their cell membrane. In addition, astrocytes accumulate large amounts of iron oxide nanoparticles by endocytotic mechanisms. Despite the rapid accumulation of high amounts of iron from various iron-containing sources, the viability of astrocytes is hardly affected. A rather slow liberation of iron from accumulated haem or iron oxide nanoparticles as well as the strong up-regulation of the synthesis of the iron storage protein ferritin are likely to contribute to the high resistance of astrocytes to iron toxicity. The efficient uptake of extracellular iron by cultured astrocytes as well as their strong up-regulation of ferritin after iron exposure also suggests that brain astrocytes deal well with an excess of iron and protect the brain against iron-mediated toxicity.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
December 2013
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
November 20 2013
Uptake and metabolism of iron and iron oxide nanoparticles in brain astrocytes
Michaela C. Hohnholt;
Michaela C. Hohnholt
*Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
†Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
Ralf Dringen
Ralf Dringen
1
*Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
†Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailralf.dringen@uni-bremen.de).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 18 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Biochem Soc Trans (2013) 41 (6): 1588–1592.
Article history
Received:
June 18 2013
Citation
Michaela C. Hohnholt, Ralf Dringen; Uptake and metabolism of iron and iron oxide nanoparticles in brain astrocytes. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2013; 41 (6): 1588–1592. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20130114
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.