Iron and Atherosclerosis: The Link Revisited

Trends Mol Med. 2019 Aug;25(8):659-661. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.05.012. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Abstract

The causal link between iron and atherosclerosis has been debated. Recent studies have revisited the 'iron hypothesis' by showing that dietary iron overload or elevated non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) aggravates atherosclerosis in mice by driving vascular dysfunction, thus identifying NTBI as a risk factor and therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; inflammation; iron hypothesis; metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology*
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Susceptibility*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Endothelium / metabolism
  • Endothelium / pathology
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Iron