Hepcidin expression and iron transport in alveolar macrophages

Could Hepcidin Be a New Biomarker in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)?

Objectives: Hepcidin is a biomarker produced by hepatocytes in chronic disease anemia and is known to increase during chronic inflammation. This study compares the hepcidin levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and controls, evaluating its relationship with anemia and systemic inflammation in IPF patients. Methods: This study included 82 IPF patients and 31 controls. Hepcidin levels were compared between the two groups. In the IPF group, the hepcidin and anemia parameters were compared between anemic and non-anemic patients. The significance between the hepcidin and systemic inflammation parameters such as Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, CRP (C-reactive protein) levels, ferritin levels, and the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) was investigated. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and ferritin levels were measured using automated analyzers. Hepcidin and erythropoietin (EPO) levels were determined using ELISA kits. Results: A significant difference in hepcidin levels was found between the IPF and control groups (37.13 ± 14.92 vs. 25.77 ± 11.25, p < 0.001). No significant difference in hepcidin levels was found between anemic and non-anemic IPF patients (38.25 ± 16.2 vs. 36.7 ± 14.6, p = 0.719). No significant correlation was found between hepcidin levels and anemia parameters (serum iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, serum transferrin, transferrin saturation, total iron-binding capacity, hemoglobin, folate, and erythropoietin) in IPF patients. Despite significant differences in the systemic inflammation parameters (ferritin and CRP) between patients and controls, no significant correlation was found between their hepcidin and systemic inflammation parameters. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the hepcidin levels in IPF patients are elevated independently of anemia and systemic inflammation. We propose that hepcidin could be a potential biomarker to be investigated in IPF patients.

Enriched environment attenuates ferroptosis after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating iron metabolism

Preventing neuronal death after ischemic stroke (IS) is crucial for neuroprotective treatment, yet current management options are limited. Enriched environment (EE) is an effective intervention strategy that promotes the recovery of neurological function after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Ferroptosis has been identified as one of the mechanisms of neuronal death during IS, and inhibiting ferroptosis can reduce cerebral I/R injury. Our previous research has demonstrated that EE reduced ferroptosis by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, but the underlying mechanism still needs to be investigated. This study aims to explore the potential molecular mechanisms by which EE modulates iron metabolism to reduce ferroptosis. The experimental animals were randomly divided into four groups based on the housing environment and the procedure the animals received: the sham-operated + standard environment (SSE) group, the sham-operated + enriched environment (SEE) group, the ischemia/reperfusion + standard environment (ISE) group, and the ischemia/reperfusion + enriched environment (IEE) group. The results showed that EE reduced IL-6 expression during cerebral I/R injury, hence reducing JAK2-STAT3 pathway activation and hepcidin expression. Reduced hepcidin expression led to decreased DMT1 expression and increased FPN1 expression in neurons, resulting in lower neuronal iron levels and alleviated ferroptosis. In addition, EE also reduced the expression of TfR1 in neurons. Our research suggested that EE played a neuroprotective role by modulating iron metabolism and reducing neuronal ferroptosis after cerebral I/R injury, which might be achieved by inhibiting inflammatory response and down-regulating hepcidin expression.

Iron Chelation as a Potential Therapeutic Approach in Acute Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) has been challenging health care systems since before the COVID-19 pandemic due to its morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay. In view of the complex pathogenesis of ALI, effective strategies for its prevention and treatment are still lacking. A growing body of evidence suggests that iron dysregulation is a common characteristic in many subtypes of ALI. On the one hand, iron is needed to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) as part of the immune response to an infection; on the other hand, iron can accelerate the occurrence of ferroptosis and extend host cell damage. Iron chelation represents a novel therapeutic strategy for alleviating lung injury and improving the survival of patients with ALI. This article reviews the current knowledge of iron homeostasis, the role of iron in ALI development, and potential therapeutic targets.

Single-cell epitope-transcriptomics reveal lung stromal and immune cell response kinetics to nanoparticle-delivered RIG-I and TLR4 agonists

Lung-resident and circulatory lymphoid, myeloid, and stromal cells, expressing various pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), detect pathogen- and danger-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/DAMPs), and defend against respiratory pathogens and injuries. Here, we report the early responses of murine lungs to nanoparticle-delivered PAMPs, specifically the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) agonist poly-U/UC (PUUC), with or without the TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA). Using cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq), we characterized the responses at 4 and 24 h after intranasal administration. Within 4 h, ribosome-associated transcripts decreased in both stromal and immune cells, followed by widespread interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression. Using RNA velocity, we show that lung-neutrophils dynamically regulate the synthesis of cytokines like CXCL-10, IL-1α, and IL-1β. Co-delivery of MPLA and PUUC increased chemokine synthesis and upregulated antimicrobial binding proteins targeting iron, manganese, and zinc in many cell types, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells. Overall, our results elucidate the early PAMP-induced cellular responses in the lung and demonstrate that stimulation of the RIG-I pathway, with or without TLR4 agonists, induces a ubiquitous microbial defense state in lung stromal and immune cells. Nanoparticle-delivered combination PAMPs may have applications in intranasal antiviral and antimicrobial therapies and prophylaxis.

Iron and mitochondria in the susceptibility, pathogenesis and progression of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease characterised by airflow limitation, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and airway remodelling. Cigarette smoke is considered the primary risk factor for the development of COPD; however, genetic factors, host responses and infection also play an important role. Accumulating evidence highlights a role for iron dyshomeostasis and cellular iron accumulation in the lung as a key contributing factor in the development and pathogenesis of COPD. Recent studies have also shown that mitochondria, the central players in cellular iron utilisation, are dysfunctional in respiratory cells in individuals with COPD, with alterations in mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics driving disease progression. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the dysfunction of mitochondria and cellular iron metabolism in the lung may unveil potential novel investigational avenues and therapeutic targets to aid in the treatment of COPD.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Aquaporin-1, Hepcidin, Zinc, Copper, and İron Levels and Oxidative Stress in the Serum of Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19

Our study aims to determine the relationship between hepcidin, aquaporin (AQP-1), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) levels, and oxidative stress in the sera of seriously ill COVID-19 patients with invasive mechanical ventilation. Ninety persons with and without COVID-19 were taken up and separated into two groups. The first group included seriously COVID-19 inpatients having endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit (n = 45). The second group included individuals who had negative PCR tests and had no chronic disease (the healthy control group n = 45). AQP-1, hepcidin, Zn, Cu, Fe, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) were studied in the sera of both groups, and the relations of these levels with oxidative stress were determined. When the COVID-19 patient and the control groups were compared, all studied parameters were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). Total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and AQP-1, hepcidin, and Cu levels were increased in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy people. Serum TAC, Zn, and Fe levels were found to be lower in the patient group than in the control group. Significant correlations were detected between the studied parameters in COVID-19 patients. Results indicated that oxidative stress may play an important role in viral infection due to SARS-CoV-2. We think that oxidative stress parameters as well as some trace elements at the onset of COVID-19 disease will provide a better triage in terms of disease severity.

Effects of Feeding 5-Aminolevulinic Acid on Iron Status in Weaned Rats from the Female Rats during Gestation and Lactation

Using female Sprague−Dawley (SD) rats as a model, the current study aimed to investigate whether feeding 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to female SD rats during gestation and lactation can affect the iron status of weaned rats and provide new ideas for the iron supplementation of piglets. A total of 27 pregnant SD rats were randomly assigned to three treatments in nine replicates, with one rat per litter. Dietary treatments were basal diet (CON), CON + 50 mg/kg 5-ALA (5-ALA50), and CON + 100 mg/kg 5-ALA (5-ALA100). After parturition, ten pups in each litter (a total of 270) were selected for continued feeding by their corresponding mother, and the pregnant rats were fed diets containing 5-ALA (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg diet) until the newborn pups were weaned at 21 days. The results showed that the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in weaned rats in the 5-ALA100 group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the CON or 5-ALA50 group. The diet with 5-ALA significantly increased (p < 0.05) the hemoglobin (HGB) concentration, hematocrit (HCT) level, serum iron (SI) content, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) level in the blood of weaned rats, as well as the concentration of Hepcidin in the liver and serum of weaned rats and the expression of Hepcidin mRNA in the liver of weaned rats, with the 5-ALA100 group having the highest (p < 0.05) HGB concentration in the weaned rats, and the 5-ALA50 group having the highest (p < 0.05) Hepcidin concentration in serum and in the expression of Hepcidin mRNA in the liver of weaned rats. The other indicators between the 5-ALA groups had no effects. However, the level of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the 5-ALA50 group. Moreover, the iron content in the liver of weaned rats fed with 5-ALA showed an upward trend (p = 0.085). In addition, feeding a 5-ALA-supplemented diet could also significantly reduce (p < 0.05) the expression of TfR1 mRNA in the liver of weaning rats (p < 0.05), and the expression of Tfr1 was not affected between 5-ALA groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 5-ALA could improve the blood parameters, increase the concentration of Hepcidin in the liver and serum, and affect the expression of iron-related genes in the liver of weaned rats. Moreover, it is appropriate to add 50 mg/kg 5-ALA to the diet under this condition.

Airway Epithelial Cells Differentially Adapt Their Iron Metabolism to Infection With Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli In Vitro

Background

Pneumonia is often elicited by bacteria and can be associated with a severe clinical course, respiratory failure and the need for mechanical ventilation. In the alveolus, type-2-alveolar-epithelial-cells (AECII) contribute to innate immune functions. We hypothesized that AECII actively adapt cellular iron homeostasis to restrict this essential nutrient from invading pathogens - a defense strategy termed 'nutritional immunity', hitherto mainly demonstrated for myeloid cells.

Methods

We established an in-vitro infection model using the human AECII-like cell line A549. We infected cells with Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), two gram-negative bacteria with different modes of infection and frequent causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia. We followed the entry and intracellular growth of these gram-negative bacteria and analyzed differential gene expression and protein levels of key inflammatory and iron metabolism molecules.

Results

Both, K. pneumoniae and E. coli are able to invade A549 cells, whereas only K. pneumoniae is capable of proliferating intracellularly. After peak bacterial burden, the number of intracellular pathogens declines, suggesting that epithelial cells initiate antimicrobial immune effector pathways to combat bacterial proliferation. The extracellular pathogen E. coli induces an iron retention phenotype in A549 cells, mainly characterized by the downregulation of the pivotal iron exporter ferroportin, the upregulation of the iron importer transferrin-receptor-1 and corresponding induction of the iron storage protein ferritin. In contrast, cells infected with the facultative intracellular bacterium K. pneumoniae exhibit an iron export phenotype indicated by ferroportin upregulation. This differential regulation of iron homeostasis and the pathogen-specific inflammatory reaction is likely mediated by oxidative stress.

Conclusion

AECII-derived A549 cells show pathogen-specific innate immune functions and adapt their iron handling in response to infection. The differential regulation of iron transporters depends on the preferential intra- or extracellular localization of the pathogen and likely aims at limiting bacterial iron availability.

Iron in airway macrophages and infective exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Excess pulmonary iron has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lung disease, including asthma and COPD. An association between higher iron content in sputum macrophages and infective exacerbations of COPD has previously been demonstrated.

Objectives

To assess the mechanisms of pulmonary macrophage iron sequestration, test the effect of macrophage iron-loading on cellular immune function, and prospectively determine if sputum hemosiderin index can predict infectious exacerbations of COPD.

Methods

Intra- and extracellular iron was measured in cell-line-derived and in freshly isolated sputum macrophages under various experimental conditions including treatment with exogenous IL-6 and hepcidin. Bacterial uptake and killing were compared in the presence or absence of iron-loading. A prospective cohort of COPD patients with defined sputum hemosiderin indices were monitored to determine the annual rate of severe infectious exacerbations.

Results

Gene expression studies suggest that airway macrophages have the requisite apparatus of the hepcidin-ferroportin axis. IL-6 and hepcidin play roles in pulmonary iron sequestration, though IL-6 appears to exert its effect via a hepcidin-independent mechanism. Iron-loaded macrophages had reduced uptake of COPD-relevant organisms and were associated with higher growth rates. Infectious exacerbations were predicted by sputum hemosiderin index (β = 0.035, p = 0.035).

Conclusions

We demonstrate in-vitro and population-level evidence that excess iron in pulmonary macrophages may contribute to recurrent airway infection in COPD. Specifically, IL-6-dependent iron sequestration by sputum macrophages may result in immune cell dysfunction and ultimately lead to increased frequency of infective exacerbation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-022-01929-7.

Iron Homeostasis Disorder and Alzheimer's Disease

Iron is an essential trace metal for almost all organisms, including human; however, oxidative stress can easily be caused when iron is in excess, producing toxicity to the human body due to its capability to be both an electron donor and an electron acceptor. Although there is a strict regulation mechanism for iron homeostasis in the human body and brain, it is usually inevitably disturbed by genetic and environmental factors, or disordered with aging, which leads to iron metabolism diseases, including many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) threatening human health. However, the precise pathogenesis of AD is still unclear, which seriously restricts the design of interventions and treatment drugs based on the pathogenesis of AD. Many studies have observed abnormal iron accumulation in different regions of the AD brain, resulting in cognitive, memory, motor and other nerve damages. Understanding the metabolic balance mechanism of iron in the brain is crucial for the treatment of AD, which would provide new cures for the disease. This paper reviews the recent progress in the relationship between iron and AD from the aspects of iron absorption in intestinal cells, storage and regulation of iron in cells and organs, especially for the regulation of iron homeostasis in the human brain and prospects the future directions for AD treatments.

HCV-Induced Immunometabolic Crosstalk in a Triple-Cell Co-Culture Model Capable of Simulating Systemic Iron Homeostasis

Iron is crucial to the regulation of the host innate immune system and the outcome of many infections. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), one of the major viral human pathogens that depends on iron to complete its life cycle, is highly skilled in evading the immune system. This study presents the construction and validation of a physiologically relevant triple-cell co-culture model that was used to investigate the input of iron in HCV infection and the interplay between HCV, iron, and determinants of host innate immunity. We recorded the expression patterns of key proteins of iron homeostasis involved in iron import, export and storage and examined their relation to the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin in hepatocytes, enterocytes and macrophages in the presence and absence of HCV. We then assessed the transcriptional profiles of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-15 (IL-15) and anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) under normal or iron-depleted conditions and determined how these were affected by infection. Our data suggest the presence of a link between iron homeostasis and innate immunity unfolding among liver, intestine, and macrophages, which could participate in the deregulation of innate immune responses observed in early HCV infection. Coupled with iron-assisted enhanced viral propagation, such a mechanism may be important for the establishment of viral persistence and the ensuing chronic liver disease.

Prolonged exposure to welding fumes as a novel cause of systemic iron overload

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Inhalation of welding fume may cause pulmonary disease known as welder's lung. At our centre we came across a number of welders with systemic iron overload and prolonged occupational history and we aimed at characterizing this novel clinical form of iron overload.

METHODS

After exclusion of other known causes of iron overload, 20 welders were fully evaluated for working history, hepatic, metabolic and iron status. MRI iron assessment was performed in 19 patients and liver biopsy in 12. We included 40 HFE-HH patients and 24 healthy controls for comparison.

RESULTS

75% of patients showed lung HRCT alterations; 90% had s-FERR > 1000 ng/mL and 60% had TSAT > 45%. Liver iron overload was mild in 8 and moderate-severe in 12. The median iron removed was 7.8 g. Welders showed significantly lower TSAT and higher SIS and SIS/TIS ratio than HFE-HH patients. Serum hepcidin was significantly higher in welders than in HFE-HH patients and healthy controls. At liver biopsy, 50% showed liver fibrosis that was mild in four, and moderate-severe in two. Liver staging correlated with liver iron overload.

CONCLUSIONS

Welders with prolonged fume exposure can develop severe liver iron overload. The mechanism of liver iron accumulation is quite different to that of HFE-HH suggesting that reticuloendothelial cells may be the initial site of deposition. We recommend routine measurement of serum iron indices in welders to provide adequate diagnosis and therapy, and the inclusion of prolonged welding fume exposure in the list of acquired causes of hyperferritinemia and iron overload.

Nutritional immunity: the impact of metals on lung immune cells and the airway microbiome during chronic respiratory disease

Nutritional immunity is the sequestration of bioavailable trace metals such as iron, zinc and copper by the host to limit pathogenicity by invading microorganisms. As one of the most conserved activities of the innate immune system, limiting the availability of free trace metals by cells of the immune system serves not only to conceal these vital nutrients from invading bacteria but also operates to tightly regulate host immune cell responses and function. In the setting of chronic lung disease, the regulation of trace metals by the host is often disrupted, leading to the altered availability of these nutrients to commensal and invading opportunistic pathogenic microbes. Similarly, alterations in the uptake, secretion, turnover and redox activity of these vitally important metals has significant repercussions for immune cell function including the response to and resolution of infection. This review will discuss the intricate role of nutritional immunity in host immune cells of the lung and how changes in this fundamental process as a result of chronic lung disease may alter the airway microbiome, disease progression and the response to infection.

Clioquinol Attenuates Pulmonary Fibrosis through Inactivation of Fibroblasts via Iron Chelation

Strict control of iron homeostasis is critical for the maintenance of normal lung function. Iron accumulates in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PF), but the characteristics of iron metabolism in the pathogenesis of PF and related targeting therapeutics are not well studied. In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular characteristics of iron metabolism in fibrotic lungs and further explored the efficacy of clioquinol (CQ) for the treatment of PF as well as its functional mechanism. Iron aggregates accumulated in the lungs of patients with idiopathic PF, and FTL (ferritin light chain) transcripts were increased in their pulmonary fibroblasts. In the bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF (BLM-PF) mouse model, pulmonary iron accumulation is a very early and concomitant event of PF. Labile iron pool levels in both fibroblasts and macrophages from the BLM-PF model were elevated, and iron metabolism was dysregulated. CQ attenuated PF induced by BLM and FITC, and iron-saturated CQ did not alleviate BLM-PF. Furthermore, CQ inhibited the activation of fibroblasts, including proliferation, fibrotic differentiation, proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and migration. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that CQ, acting as an iron chelator, attenuates experimental PF through inactivation of fibroblasts, providing support for targeting iron metabolism as a basis for PF treatment.

Iron Metabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment: Contributions of Innate Immune Cells

Cells of the innate immune system are a major component of the tumor microenvironment. They play complex and multifaceted roles in the regulation of cancer initiation, growth, metastasis and responses to therapeutics. Innate immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages are recruited to cancerous tissues by chemotactic molecules released by cancer cells and cancer-associated stromal cells. Once they reach the tumor, they can be instructed by a network of proteins, nucleic acids and metabolites to exert protumoral or antitumoral functions. Altered iron metabolism is a feature of cancer. Epidemiological studies suggest that increased presence of iron and/or iron binding proteins is associated with increased risks of cancer development. It has been shown that iron metabolism is involved in shaping the immune landscapes in inflammatory/infectious diseases and cancer-associated inflammation. In this article, we will dissect the contribution of macrophages and neutrophils to dysregulated iron metabolism in malignant cells and its impact on cancer growth and metastasis. The mechanisms involved in regulating the actions of macrophages and neutrophils will also be discussed. Moreover, we will examine the effects of iron metabolism on the phenotypes of innate immune cells. Both iron chelating and overloading agents are being explored in cancer treatment. This review highlights alternative strategies for management of iron content in cancer cells by targeting the iron donation and modulation properties of macrophages and neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment.

Mild Attenuation of the Pulmonary Inflammatory Response in a Mouse Model of Hereditary Hemochromatosis Type 4

The respiratory tract is constantly exposed to pathogens that require iron for proliferation and virulence. Pulmonary iron levels are increased in several lung diseases and associated with increased susceptibility to infections. However, regulation of lung iron homeostasis and its cross talk to pulmonary immune responses are largely unexplored. Here we investigated how increased lung iron levels affect the early pulmonary inflammatory response. We induced acute local pulmonary inflammation via aerosolized LPS in a mouse model of hereditary hemochromatosis type 4 (Slc40a1 ^C326S/C326S), which is hallmarked by systemic and pulmonary iron accumulation, specifically in alveolar macrophages. We show that Slc40a1 ^C326S/C326S mice display a mild attenuation in the LPS-induced pulmonary inflammatory response, with a reduced upregulation of some pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Despite mildly reduced cytokine levels, there is no short-term impairment in the recruitment of neutrophils into the bronchoalveolar space. These data suggest that increased pulmonary iron levels do not strongly alter the acute inflammatory response of the lung.

Hepcidin Is Essential for Alveolar Macrophage Function and Is Disrupted by Smoke in a Murine Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease associated with cigarette smoking. Alterations in local lung and systemic iron regulation are associated with disease progression and pathogenesis. Hepcidin, an iron regulatory peptide hormone, is altered in subjects with COPD; however, the molecular role of hepcidin in COPD pathogenesis remains to be determined. In this study, using a murine model of smoke-induced COPD, we demonstrate that lung and circulating hepcidin levels are inhibited by cigarette smoke. We show that cigarette smoke exposure increases erythropoietin and bone marrow-derived erythroferrone and leads to expanded but inefficient erythropoiesis in murine bone marrow and an increase in ferroportin on alveolar macrophages (AMs). AMs from smokers and subjects with COPD display increased expression of ferroportin as well as hepcidin. Notably, murine AMs exposed to smoke fail to increase hepcidin in response to Gram-negative or Gram-positive infection. Loss of hepcidin in vivo results in blunted functional responses of AMs and exaggerated responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Leishmania infection triggers hepcidin-mediated proteasomal degradation of Nramp1 to increase phagolysosomal iron availability

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1) was originally discovered as a genetic determinant of resistance against multiple intracellular pathogens, including Leishmania. It encodes a transmembrane protein of the phago-endosomal compartments, where it functions as an iron transporter. But the mechanism by which Nramp1 controls host-pathogen dynamics and determines final outcome of an infection is yet to be fully deciphered. Whether the expression of Nramp1 is altered in response to a pathogen attack is also unknown. To address these, Nramp1 status was examined in Leishmania major-infected murine macrophages. We observed that at 12 hrs post infection, there was drastic lowering of Nramp1 level accompanied by increased phagolysosomal iron content and enhanced intracellular parasite growth. Leishmania infection-induced Nramp1 downregulation was caused by ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway, which in turn was found to be mediated by the iron-regulatory peptide hormone hepcidin. Blocking of Nramp1 degradation with proteasome inhibitor or transcriptional agonist of hepcidin resulted in depletion of phagolysosomal iron pool that led to significant reduction of intracellular parasite burden. Interestingly, Nramp1 level was restored to normalcy after 30 hrs of infection with a concomitant drop in phagolysosomal iron, which is suggestive of a host counteractive response to deprive the pathogen of this essential micronutrient. Taken together, our study implicates Nramp1 as a central player in the host-pathogen battle for phagolysosomal iron. We also report Nramp1 as a novel target for hepcidin, and this 'hepcidin-Nramp1' axis may have a broader role in regulating macrophage iron homeostasis.

The possible mechanisms of action of 4-aminoquinolines (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine) against Sars-Cov-2 infection (COVID-19): A role for iron homeostasis?

The anti-malarial drugs chloroquine (CQ) and primarily the less toxic hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are currently used to treat autoimmune diseases for their immunomodulatory and anti-thrombotic properties. They have also been proposed for the treatment of several viral infections, due to their anti-viral effects in cell cultures and animal models, and, currently, for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (Sars-Cov-2) infection that is spreading all over the world. Although in some recent studies a clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients has been observed, the clinical efficacy of CQ and HCQ in COVID-19 has yet to be proven with randomized controlled studies, many of which are currently ongoing, also considering pharmacokinetics, optimal dosing regimen, therapeutic level and duration of treatment and taking into account patients with different severity degrees of disease. Here we review what is currently known on the mechanisms of action of CQ and HCQ as anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic drugs and discuss the up-to-date experimental evidence on the potential mechanisms of action of CQ/HCQ in Sars-Cov2 infection and the current clinical knowledge on their efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Given the role of iron in several human viral infections, we also propose a different insight into a number of CQ and HCQ pharmacological effects, suggesting a potential involvement of iron homeostasis in Sars-Cov-2 infection and COVID-19 clinical course.

Regulation of tissue iron homeostasis: the macrophage "ferrostat"

Iron is an essential element for multiple fundamental biological processes required for life; yet iron overload can be cytotoxic. Consequently, iron concentrations at the cellular and tissue level must be exquisitely governed by mechanisms that complement and fine-tune systemic control. It is well appreciated that macrophages are vital for systemic iron homeostasis, supplying or sequestering iron as needed for erythropoiesis or bacteriostasis, respectively. Indeed, recycling of iron through erythrophagocytosis by splenic macrophages is a major contributor to systemic iron homeostasis. However, accumulating evidence suggests that tissue-resident macrophages regulate local iron availability and modulate the tissue microenvironment, contributing to cellular and tissue function. Here, we summarize the significance of tissue-specific regulation of iron availability and highlight how resident macrophages are critical for this process. This tissue-dependent regulation has broad implications for understanding both resident macrophage function and tissue iron homeostasis in health and disease.

Transcriptional Profiling of the Murine Airway Response to Acute Ozone Exposure

Ambient ozone (O3) exposure has serious consequences on respiratory health, including airway inflammation and injury. Decades of research have yielded thorough descriptions of these outcomes; however, less is known about the molecular processes that drive them. The aim of this study was to further describe the cellular and molecular responses to O3 exposure in murine airways, with a particular focus on transcriptional responses in 2 critical pulmonary tissue compartments: conducting airways (CA) and airway macrophages (AM). After exposing adult, female C57BL/6J mice to filtered air, 1 or 2 ppm O3, we assessed hallmark responses including airway inflammation (cell counts and cytokine secretion) and injury (epithelial permeability), followed by gene expression profiling of CA and AM by RNA-seq. As expected, we observed concentration-dependent increases in airway inflammation and injury. Conducting airways and AM both exhibited changes in gene expression to both 1 and 2 ppm O3 that were largely compartment-specific. In CA, genes associated with epithelial barrier function, detoxification processes, and cellular proliferation were altered, while O3 affected genes involved in innate immune signaling, cytokine production, and extracellular matrix remodeling in AM. Further, CA and AM also exhibited notable differences in concentration-response expression patterns for large numbers of genes. Overall, our study has described transcriptional responses to acute O3 exposure, revealing both shared and unique gene expression patterns across multiple concentrations of O3 and in 2 important O3-responsive tissues. These profiles provide broad mechanistic insight into pulmonary O3 toxicity, and reveal a variety of targets for focused follow-up studies.

Quartz Disrupts Iron Homeostasis in Alveolar Macrophages To Impact a Pro-Inflammatory Effect

The biological response of bronchial epithelial cells to particles is associated with a sequestration of cell metal by the particle surface and a subsequent disruption in host iron homeostasis. The macrophage is the cell type resident in the respiratory tract that is most likely to make initial contact with inhaled particles. We tested the postulates that (1) silica, a prototypical particle, disrupts iron homeostasis in alveolar macrophages (AMs); and (2) the altered iron homeostasis results in both an oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory effects. Human AMs (1.0 × 10⁶/mL) demonstrated an increased import of iron following particle exposure with nonheme iron concentrations of 0.57 ± 0.03, 1.72 ± 0.09, 0.88 ± 0.09, and 3.21 ± 0.11 ppm in cells exposed for 4 h to media, 500 μM ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), 100 μg/mL silica, and both silica and FAC, respectively. Intracellular ferritin concentrations and iron release were similarly increased after AM exposure to FAC and silica. Silica increased oxidant generation by AMs measured using both dichlorofluorescein diacetate fluorescence and reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium salt. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α in macrophage supernatant increased following 100 μg/mL silica exposure for 24 h. Treatment of AMs with 500 μM FAC decreased both oxidant generation and cytokine release associated with silica exposure, supporting a dependence of these effects on sequestration of cell metal by the particle surface. We conclude that (1) silica exposure disrupts iron homeostasis resulting in increased import, accumulation, and release of the metal; and (2) the altered iron homeostasis following silica exposure impacts oxidant generation and pro-inflammatory effects.

Extrahepatic hepcidin production: The intriguing outcomes of recent years

Hepcidin is the hyposideremic hormone regulating iron metabolism. It is a defensin-like disulfide-bonded peptide with antimicrobial activity. The main site of hepcidin production is the liver where its synthesis is modulated by iron, inflammation and erythropoietic signaling. However, hepcidin locally produced in several peripheral organs seems to be an important actor for the maintenance of iron homeostasis in these organs. This review highlights the presence of peripheral hepcidin and its potential functions. Understanding the role of extrahepatic hepcidin could be of great physiological and therapeutic importance for several specific pathologies.

Smoking-induced iron dysregulation in the lung

Iron is one of the most abundant transition elements and is indispensable for almost all organisms. While the ability of iron to participate in redox chemistry is an essential requirement for participation in a range of vital enzymatic reactions, this same feature of iron also makes it dangerous in the generation of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions. Given the high local oxygen tensions in the lung, the regulation of iron acquisition, utilization, and storage therefore becomes vitally important, perhaps more so than in any other biological system. Iron plays a critical role in the biology of essentially every cell type in the lung, and in particular, changes in iron levels have important ramifications on immune function and the local lung microenvironment. There is substantial evidence that cigarette smoke causes iron dysregulation, with the implication that iron may be the link between smoking and smoking-related lung diseases. A better understanding of the connection between cigarette smoke, iron, and respiratory diseases will help to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and aid in the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

Iron in Lung Pathology

The lung presents a unique challenge for iron homeostasis. The entire airway is in direct contact with the environment and its iron particulate matter and iron-utilizing microbes. However, the homeostatic and adaptive mechanisms of pulmonary iron regulation are poorly understood. This review provides an overview of systemic and local lung iron regulation, as well as the roles of iron in the development of lung infections, airway disease, and lung injury. These mechanisms provide an important foundation for the ongoing development of therapeutic applications.

Iron Homeostasis in the Lungs-A Balance between Health and Disease

A strong mechanistic link between the regulation of iron homeostasis and oxygen sensing is evident in the lung, where both systems must be properly controlled to maintain lung function. Imbalances in pulmonary iron homeostasis are frequently associated with respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and with lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms causing alterations in iron levels and the involvement of iron in the development of lung disorders are incompletely understood. Here, we review current knowledge about the regulation of pulmonary iron homeostasis, its functional importance, and the link between dysregulated iron levels and lung diseases. Gaining greater knowledge on how iron contributes to the pathogenesis of these diseases holds promise for future iron-related therapeutic strategies.

Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration: the involvement of iron

Many evidences indicate that oxidative stress plays a significant role in a variety of human disease states, including neurodegenerative diseases. Iron is an essential metal for almost all living organisms due to its involvement in a large number of iron-containing proteins and enzymes, though it could be also toxic. Actually, free iron excess generates oxidative stress, particularly in brain, where anti-oxidative defences are relatively low. Its accumulation in specific regions is associated with pathogenesis in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation). Anyway, the extent of toxicity is dictated, in part, by the localization of the iron complex within the cell (cytosolic, lysosomal and mitochondrial), its biochemical form, i.e., ferritin or hemosiderin, as well as the ability of the cell to prevent the generation and propagation of free radical by the wide range of antioxidants and cytoprotective enzymes in the cell. Particularly, ferrous iron can act as a catalyst in the Fenton reaction that potentiates oxygen toxicity by generating a wide range of free radical species, including hydroxyl radicals (·OH). The observation that patients with neurodegenerative diseases show a dramatic increase in their brain iron content, correlated with the production of reactive oxigen species in these areas of the brain, conceivably suggests that disturbances in brain iron homeostasis may contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders. The aim of this review is to describe the chemical features of iron in human beings and iron induced toxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the attention is focused on metal chelating drugs therapeutic strategies.

Cell iron status influences macrophage polarization

Macrophages play crucial roles in innate immune response and in the priming of adaptive immunity, and are characterized by their phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity. Reprogramming intracellular metabolism in response to microenvironmental signals is required for M1/M2 macrophage polarization and function. Here we assessed the influence of iron on the polarization of the immune response in vivo and in vitro. Iron-enriched diet increased M2 marker Arg1 and Ym1 expression in liver and peritoneal macrophages, while iron deficiency decreased Arg1 expression. Under LPS-induced inflammatory conditions, low iron diet exacerbated the proinflammatory response, while the IL-12/IL-10 balance decreased with iron-rich diet, thus polarizing toward type 2 response. Indeed, in vitro macrophage iron loading reduced the basal percentage of cells expressing M1 co-stimulatory CD86 and MHC-II molecules. Further, iron loading of macrophages prevented the pro-inflammatory response induced by LPS through reduction of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation with decreased iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNFα expression. The increase of intracellular iron also reduced LPS-induced hepcidin gene expression and abolished ferroportin down-regulation in macrophages, in line with macrophage polarization. Thus, iron modulates the inflammatory response outcome, as elevated iron levels increased M2 phenotype and negatively regulated M1 proinflammatory LPS-induced response.

Whole-body iron transport and metabolism: Mechanistic, multi-scale model to improve treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease

Iron plays vital roles in the human body including enzymatic processes, oxygen-transport via hemoglobin and immune response. Iron metabolism is characterized by ~95% recycling and minor replenishment through diet. Anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a lack of synthesis of erythropoietin leading to reduced red blood cell (RBC) formation and aberrant iron recycling. Treatment of CKD anemia aims to normalize RBC count and serum hemoglobin. Clinically, the various fluxes of iron transport and accumulation are not measured so that changes during disease (e.g., CKD) and treatment are unknown. Unwanted iron accumulation in patients is known to lead to adverse effects. Current whole-body models lack the mechanistic details of iron transport related to RBC maturation, transferrin (Tf and TfR) dynamics and assume passive iron efflux from macrophages. Hence, they are not predictive of whole-body iron dynamics and cannot be used to design individualized patient treatment. For prediction, we developed a mechanistic, multi-scale computational model of whole-body iron metabolism incorporating four compartments containing major pools of iron and RBC generation process. The model accounts for multiple forms of iron in vivo, mechanisms involved in iron uptake and release and their regulation. Furthermore, the model is interfaced with drug pharmacokinetics to allow simulation of treatment dynamics. We calibrated our model with experimental and clinical data from peer-reviewed literature to reliably simulate CKD anemia and the effects of current treatment involving combination of epoietin-alpha and iron dextran. This in silico whole-body model of iron metabolism predicts that a year of treatment can potentially lead to 90% downregulation of ferroportin (FPN) levels, 15-fold increase in iron stores with only a 20% increase in iron flux from the reticulo-endothelial system (RES). Model simulations quantified unmeasured iron fluxes, previously unknown effects of treatment on FPN-level and iron stores in the RES. This mechanistic whole-body model can be the basis for future studies that incorporate iron metabolism together with related clinical experiments. Such an approach could pave the way for development of effective personalized treatment of CKD anemia.

Microhemorrhage-associated tissue iron enhances the risk for Aspergillus fumigatus invasion in a mouse model of airway transplantation

Invasive pulmonary disease due to the mold Aspergillus fumigatus can be life-threatening in lung transplant recipients, but the risk factors remain poorly understood. To study this process, we used a tracheal allograft mouse model that recapitulates large airway changes observed in patients undergoing lung transplantation. We report that microhemorrhage-related iron content may be a major determinant of A. fumigatus invasion and, consequently, its virulence. Invasive growth was increased during progressive alloimmune-mediated graft rejection associated with high concentrations of ferric iron in the graft. The role of iron in A. fumigatus invasive growth was further confirmed by showing that this invasive phenotype was increased in tracheal transplants from donor mice lacking the hemochromatosis gene (Hfe^-/- ). The invasive phenotype was also increased in mouse syngrafts treated with topical iron solution and in allograft recipients receiving deferoxamine, a chelator that increases iron bioavailability to the mold. The invasive growth of the iron-intolerant A. fumigatus double-knockout mutant (ΔsreA/ΔcccA) was lower than that of the wild-type mold. Alloimmune-mediated microvascular damage and iron overload did not appear to impair the host's immune response. In human lung transplant recipients, positive staining for iron in lung transplant tissue was more commonly seen in endobronchial biopsy sections from transplanted airways than in biopsies from the patients' own airways. Collectively, these data identify iron as a major determinant of A. fumigatus invasive growth and a potential target to treat or prevent A. fumigatus infections in lung transplant patients.

Hepcidin deficiency and iron deficiency do not alter tuberculosis susceptibility in a murine M.tb infection model

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the macrophage-tropic pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is a highly prevalent infectious disease. Since an immune correlate of protection or effective vaccine have yet to be found, continued research into host-pathogen interactions is important. Previous literature reports links between host iron status and disease outcome for many infections, including TB. For some extracellular bacteria, the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is essential for protection against infection. Here, we investigated hepcidin (encoded by Hamp1) in the context of murine M.tb infection. Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with M.tb Erdman via aerosol. Hepatic expression of iron-responsive genes was measured by qRT-PCR and bacterial burden determined in organ homogenates. We found that hepatic Hamp1 mRNA levels decreased post-infection, and correlated with a marker of BMP/SMAD signalling pathways. Next, we tested the effect of Hamp1 deletion, and low iron diets, on M.tb infection. Hamp1 knockout mice did not have a significantly altered M.tb mycobacterial load in either the lungs or spleen. Up to 10 weeks of dietary iron restriction did not robustly affect disease outcome despite causing iron deficiency anaemia. Taken together, our data indicate that unlike with many other infections, hepcidin is decreased following M.tb infection, and show that hepcidin ablation does not influence M.tb growth in vivo. Furthermore, because even severe iron deficiency did not affect M.tb mycobacterial load, we suggest that the mechanisms M.tb uses to scavenge iron from the host must be extremely efficient, and may therefore represent potential targets for drugs and vaccines.

Studying hepcidin and related pathways in osteoblasts using a mouse model with insulin receptor substrate 1‑loss of function

Hepcidin is one of the most important proteins in iron metabolism. In the present study, its role in iron metabolism and the associated signaling pathways involved was investigated in a mouse model with insulin receptor substrate 1‑loss of function (IRS‑/‑), and osteoblasts in the iron overload condition. Protein expression levels of hepcidin, interleukin 6 (IL‑6), bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1α and ferritin demonstrated a significant increase in the liver of the IRS‑/‑ mice compared with the IRS+/‑ and IRS+/+ mice. Hepcidin levels in the jaw bone were also increased in the IRS‑/‑ mice (although not significantly). Furthermore, mRNA expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and ferroportin (FPN) were significantly increased in the liver of the IRS‑/‑ mice compared with the other two models, but no significant differences were observed in the transferrin receptor mRNA expression levels. Additionally, the mRNA expression of hepcidin, FPN and IL‑6 was upregulated in osteoblasts after ferric ammonium citrate exposure, while the mRNA expression of BMP6 was inhibited. Collectively, the results of the present study indicated that hepcidin is involved in iron metabolism in IRS‑1‑/‑ mice via the signaling pathways involving BMP6 and IL‑6. Furthermore, hepcidin is also involved in iron metabolism in osteoblasts under iron overload conditions. Therefore, hepcidin and its associated signaling pathway proteins may represent potential targets for the treatment of conditions associated with iron overload.

Pulmonary Iron Homeostasis in Hepcidin Knockout Mice

Pulmonary iron excess is deleterious and contributes to a range of chronic and acute inflammatory diseases. Optimal lung iron concentration is maintained through dynamic regulation of iron transport and storage proteins. The iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin is also expressed in the lung. In order to better understand the interactions between iron-associated molecules and the hepcidin-ferroportin axis in lung iron balance, we examined lung physiology and inflammatory responses in two murine models of systemic iron-loading, either hepcidin knock-out (Hepc KO) or liver-specific hepcidin KO mice (Hepc KOliv), which do (Hepc KOliv) or do not (Hepc KO) express lung hepcidin. We have found that increased plasma iron in Hepc KO mice is associated with increased pulmonary iron levels, consistent with increased cellular iron uptake by pulmonary epithelial cells, together with an increase at the apical membrane of the cells of the iron exporter ferroportin, consistent with increased iron export in the alveoli. Subsequently, alveolar macrophages (AM) accumulate iron in a non-toxic form and this is associated with elevated production of ferritin. The accumulation of iron in the lung macrophages of hepcidin KO mice contrasts with splenic and hepatic macrophages which contain low iron levels as we have previously reported. Hepc KOliv mice with liver-specific hepcidin deficiency demonstrated same pulmonary iron overload profile as the Hepc KO mice, suggesting that pulmonary hepcidin is not critical in maintaining local iron homeostasis. In addition, the high iron load in the lung of Hepc KO mice does not appear to enhance acute lung inflammation or injury. Lastly, we have shown that intraperitoneal LPS injection is not associated with pulmonary hepcidin induction, despite high levels of inflammatory cytokines. However, intranasal LPS injection stimulates a hepcidin response, likely derived from AM, and alters pulmonary iron content in Hepc KO mice.

The liver in regulation of iron homeostasis

The liver is one of the largest and most functionally diverse organs in the human body. In addition to roles in detoxification of xenobiotics, digestion, synthesis of important plasma proteins, gluconeogenesis, lipid metabolism, and storage, the liver also plays a significant role in iron homeostasis. Apart from being the storage site for excess body iron, it also plays a vital role in regulating the amount of iron released into the blood by enterocytes and macrophages. Since iron is essential for many important physiological and molecular processes, it increases the importance of liver in the proper functioning of the body's metabolism. This hepatic iron-regulatory function can be attributed to the expression of many liver-specific or liver-enriched proteins, all of which play an important role in the regulation of iron homeostasis. This review focuses on these proteins and their known roles in the regulation of body iron metabolism.

Markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation in lung tissue of rats exposed to different intravenous iron compounds

Iron deficiency anemia is a frequent complication in clinical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and excessive blood loss. Given the ability of iron to catalyze redox reactions, iron therapy can be associated with oxidative stress. The lung is uniquely susceptible to oxidative stress, and little is known about the effects of intravenous iron treatment in this organ. This study characterized changes in markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation in the lung of non-iron deficient, non-anemic rats treated with five weekly doses (40 mg iron per kg body weight) of low molecular weight iron dextran (LMWID), iron sucrose (IS), ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), ferumoxytol (FMX), iron isomaltoside 1000 (IIM), or saline (control). Rats treated with LMWID, FMX, or IIM showed significant changes in most measures of oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and iron deposition compared to the saline-treated controls, with greatest changes in the LMWID treatment group. Increases in products of lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and protein nitrosation (nitrotyrosine) were consistent with increases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, Cu,Zn-SOD, GPx), decreases in antioxidative capacity (reduced:oxidized GSH ratio), increased levels of transcription factors involved in the inflammatory pathway (NF-κB, HIF-1α), inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), adhesion molecules (VCAM-1), markers of macrophage infiltration (ED-1), and iron deposition (Prussian blue, ferritin). Since changes in measured parameters in FCM- or IS-treated rats were generally modest, the results suggest that FCM and IS have a low propensity to induce lung inflammation. The relevance of these findings to clinical safety profiles of the tested intravenous iron products requires further investigation.

Role of iron in the pathogenesis of respiratory disease

Iron is essential for many biological processes, however, too much or too little iron can result in a wide variety of pathological consequences, depending on the organ system, tissue or cell type affected. In order to reduce pathogenesis, iron levels are tightly controlled in throughout the body by regulatory systems that control iron absorption, systemic transport and cellular uptake and storage. Altered iron levels and/or dysregulated homeostasis have been associated with several lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma. However, the mechanisms that underpin these associations and whether iron plays a key role in the pathogenesis of lung disease are yet to be fully elucidated. Furthermore, in order to survive and replicate, pathogenic micro-organisms have evolved strategies to source host iron, including freeing iron from cells and proteins that store and transport iron. To counter these microbial strategies, mammals have evolved immune-mediated defence mechanisms that reduce iron availability to pathogens. This interplay between iron, infection and immunity has important ramifications for the pathogenesis and management of human respiratory infections and diseases. An increased understanding of the role that iron plays in the pathogenesis of lung disease and respiratory infections may help inform novel therapeutic strategies. Here we review the clinical and experimental evidence that highlights the potential importance of iron in respiratory diseases and infections.

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) transcriptionally activates hepcidin by inducing CCAAT enhancer-binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) expression in hepatocytes

Hepcidin is a liver-derived hormone that negatively regulates serum iron levels and is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level. Previous studies have clarified that in addition to hepatic iron levels, inflammation also efficiently increases hepatic hepcidin expression. The principle regions responsible for efficient hepcidin transcription are bone morphogenetic protein-responsive elements (BMP-REs) 1 and 2 as well as the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-binding site (STAT-BS). Here, we show that the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) efficiently increases hepcidin expression in human HepG2 liver-derived cells and primary mouse hepatocytes. The primary region responsible for IL-1β-mediated hepcidin transcription was the putative CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-binding site (C/EBP-BS) at the hepcidin promoter spanning nucleotides -329 to -320. IL-1β induces the expression of C/EBPδ but neither C/EBPα nor C/EBPβ in hepatocytes, and C/EBPδ bound to the C/EBP-BS in an IL-1β-dependent manner. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced the expression of IL-1β in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes in the mouse liver; furthermore, the culture supernatants from the macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 treated with LPS potentiated the stimulation of hepcidin expression in hepatocytes. The present study reveals that: 1) inflammation induces IL-1β production in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes; 2) IL-1β increases C/EBPδ expression in hepatocytes; and 3) induction of C/EBPδ activates hepcidin transcription via the C/EBP-BS that has been uncharacterized yet. In cooperation with the other pathways activated by inflammation, IL-1β pathway stimulation leads to excess production of hepcidin, which could be causative to anemia of inflammation.

Hemosiderin in sputum macrophages may predict infective exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective observational study

Background

Infective exacerbations of COPD are common and are accompanied by neutrophilic bronchitis in sputum. Increased respiratory iron content has been associated with respiratory tract infection, though it is unclear if this represents a predisposing factor for infection or the sequelae of inflammation. Iron overload, as assessed in the airways, may be an important biomarker for recurrent infective exacerbations of COPD. The purpose of our study was to determine if hemosiderin in sputum macrophages is related to infective exacerbations of COPD.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective observational study of 54 consecutive patients who presented with an exacerbation of COPD and had sputum examined including assessment for hemosiderin in alveolar macrophages. The relation between infective exacerbations in the previous two years and the percent of hemosiderin-positive macrophages was analyzed with linear regression. To account for the non-parametric distribution of infective exacerbations, negative binomial regression modelling was used to account for other covariates.

Results

The percent of hemosiderin positive alveolar macrophages (hemosiderin index), analyzed parametrically and non-parametrically, demonstrated a significant correlation with increasing numbers of infective exacerbations in the previous two years. In a multivariate regression analysis, hemosiderin index was an independent predictor of infective exacerbations. COPD patients with raised hemosiderin index (≥20%) had higher levels of sputum IL-6 compared to patients with lower levels (<20%).

Conclusions

High hemosiderin index in sputum alveolar macrophages measured at the time of AECOPD may be related to the frequency of infective exacerbations of COPD.

Hepcidin-mediated iron sequestration protects against bacterial dissemination during pneumonia

Gram-negative pneumonia is a dangerous illness, and bacterial dissemination to the bloodstream during the infection is strongly associated with death. Antibiotic resistance among the causative pathogens has resulted in diminishing treatment options against this infection. Hepcidin is the master regulator of extracellular iron availability in vertebrates, but its role in the context of host defense is undefined. We hypothesized that hepcidin-mediated depletion of extracellular iron during Gram-negative pneumonia protects the host by limiting dissemination of bacteria to the bloodstream. During experimental pneumonia, hepcidin was induced in the liver in an IL-6-dependent manner and mediated a rapid decline in plasma iron. In contrast, hepcidin-deficient mice developed a paradoxical increase in plasma iron during infection associated with profound susceptibility to bacteremia. Incubation of bacteria with iron-supplemented plasma enhanced bacterial growth in vitro, and systemic administration of iron to WT mice similarly promoted increased susceptibility to bloodstream infection. Finally, treatment with a hepcidin analogue restored hypoferremia in hepcidin-deficient hosts, mediated bacterial control, and improved outcomes. These data show hepcidin induction during pneumonia to be essential to preventing bacterial dissemination by limiting extracellular iron availability. Hepcidin agonists may represent an effective therapy for Gram-negative infections in patients with impaired hepcidin production or signaling.

Biomarkers of inflammation and innate immunity in atrophic nonunion fracture

BACKGROUND

Nonunion is a failure of healing following a bone fracture. Its physiopathology remains partially unclear and the discovery of new mediators could promote the understanding of bone healing.

METHODS

Thirty-three atrophic nonunion (NU) patients that failed to demonstrate any radiographic improvement for 6 consecutive months were recruited for providing serum samples. Thirty-five healthy volunteers (HV) served as the control group. Proteomics studies were performed using SELDI-TOF-MS and 2D-DIGE approaches, associated or not with Proteominer® preprocessing, to highlight biomarkers specific to atrophic nonunion pathology. Peak intensities were analyzed by two statistical approaches, a nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests (univariate approach) and a machine-learning algorithm called extra-trees (multivariate approach). Validation of highlighted biomarkers was performed by alternative approaches such as microfluidic LC-MS/MS, nephelometry, western blotting or ELISA assays.

RESULTS

From the 35 HV and 33 NU crude serum samples and Proteominer® eluates, 136 spectra were collected by SELDI-TOF-MS using CM10 and IMAC-Cu(2+) ProteinChip arrays, and 665 peaks were integrated for extra-trees multivariate analysis. Accordingly, seven biomarkers and several variants were identified as potential NU biomarkers. Their levels of expression were found to be down- or up-regulated in serum of HV vs NU. These biomarkers are inter-α-trypsin inhibitor H4, hepcidin, S100A8, S100A9, glycated hemoglobin β subunit, PACAP related peptide, complement C3 α-chain. 2D-DIGE experiment allowed to detect 14 biomarkers as being down- or up-regulated in serum of HV vs NU including a cleaved fragment of apolipoprotein A-IV, apolipoprotein E, complement C3 and C6. Several biomarkers such as hepcidin, complement C6, S100A9, apolipoprotein E, complement C3 and C4 were confirmed by an alternative approach as being up-regulated in serum of NU patients compared to HV controls.

CONCLUSION

Two proteomics approaches were used to identify new biomarkers up- or down-regulated in the nonunion pathology, which are involved in bone turn-over, inflammation, innate immunity, glycation and lipid metabolisms. High expression of hepcidin or S100A8/S100A9 by myeloid cells and the presence of advanced glycation end products and complement factors could be the result of a longstanding inflammatory process. Blocking macrophage activation and/or TLR4 receptor could accelerate healing of fractured bone in at-risk patients.

Macrophagic control of the response to uropathogenic E. coli infection by regulation of iron retention in an IL-6-dependent manner

Introduction

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the causative agent of over 85% of urinary tract infections (UTIs), elaborate a number of siderophores to chelate iron from the host. On the other hand, the host immune imperative is to limit the availability of iron to the bacteria. Little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying this host‐iron‐UPEC interaction. Our objective was to determine whether macrophages, in response to UPEC infection, retain extracellular siderophore‐bound and free iron, thus limiting the ability of UPEC to access iron.

Methods

Quantitative PCR, immunoblotting analysis, and gene expression analysis of wild type and IL‐6‐deficient macrophages was performed.

Results

We found that (1) macrophages upon UPEC infection increased expression of lipocalin 2, a siderophore‐binding molecule, of Dmt1, a molecule that facilitates macrophage uptake of free iron, and of the intracellular iron cargo molecule ferritin, and decreased expression of the iron exporter ferroportin; (2) bladder macrophages regulate expression of genes involved in iron retention upon UPEC infection; (3) IL‐6, a cytokine known to play an important role in regulating host iron homeostasis as well as host defense to UPEC, regulates this process, in part by promoting production of lipocalin 2; and finally, (4) inhibition of IL‐6 signaling genetically and by neutralizing antibodies against the IL‐6 receptor, promoted intra‐macrophagic UPEC growth in the presence of excess iron.

Conclusions

Together, our study suggests that macrophages retain siderophore‐bound and free iron in response to UPEC and IL‐6 signaling is necessary for macrophages to limit the growth of UPEC in the presence of excess iron. IL‐6 signaling and iron regulation is one mechanism by which macrophages may mediate UPEC clearance.

Hepcidin and Host Defense against Infectious Diseases

Hepcidin is the master regulator of iron homeostasis in vertebrates. The synthesis of hepcidin is induced by systemic iron levels and by inflammatory stimuli. While the role of hepcidin in iron regulation is well established, its contribution to host defense is emerging as complex and multifaceted. In this review, we summarize the literature on the role of hepcidin as a mediator of antimicrobial immunity. Hepcidin induction during infection causes depletion of extracellular iron, which is thought to be a general defense mechanism against many infections by withholding iron from invading pathogens. Conversely, by promoting iron sequestration in macrophages, hepcidin may be detrimental to cellular defense against certain intracellular infections, although critical in vivo studies are needed to confirm this concept. It is not yet clear whether hepcidin exerts any iron-independent effects on host defenses.

Isolation of murine peritoneal macrophages to carry out gene expression analysis upon Toll-like receptors stimulation

During infection and inflammation, circulating monocytes leave the bloodstream and migrate into tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages. Macrophages express surface Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize molecular patterns conserved through evolution in a wide range of microorganisms. TLRs play a central role in macrophage activation which is usually associated with gene expression alteration. Macrophages are critical in many diseases and have emerged as attractive targets for therapy. In the following protocol, we describe a procedure to isolate murine peritoneal macrophages using Brewer's thioglycollate medium. The latter will boost monocyte migration into the peritoneum, accordingly this will raise macrophage yield by 10-fold. Several studies have been carried out using bone marrow, spleen or peritoneal derived macrophages. However, peritoneal macrophages were shown to be more mature upon isolation and are more stable in their functionality and phenotype. Thus, macrophages isolated from murine peritoneal cavity present an important cell population that can serve in different immunological and metabolic studies. Once isolated, macrophages were stimulated with different TLR ligands and consequently gene expression was evaluated.

An overview of molecular basis of iron metabolism regulation and the associated pathologies

Iron is essential for several vital biological processes. Its deficiency or overload drives to the development of several pathologies. To maintain iron homeostasis, the organism controls the dietary iron absorption by enterocytes, its recycling by macrophages and storage in hepatocytes. These processes are mainly controlled by hepcidin, a liver-derived hormone which synthesis is regulated by iron levels, inflammation, infection, anemia and erythropoiesis. Besides the systemic regulation of iron metabolism mediated by hepcidin, cellular regulatory processes also occur. Cells are able to regulate themselves the expression of the iron metabolism-related genes through different post-transcriptional mechanisms, such as the alternative splicing, microRNAs, the IRP/IRE system and the proteolytic cleavage. Whenever those mechanisms are disturbed, due to genetic or environmental factors, iron homeostasis is disrupted and iron related pathologies may arise.

Bone marrow iron distribution, hepcidin, and ferroportin expression in renal anemia

OBJECTIVES

The hepcidin-ferroportin system is involved in both conditions associated with iron-restricted erythropoiesis in renal anemia: iron deficiency and anemia of chronic disorders. As serum hepcidin could aid diagnosis, we investigated its relationships with bone marrow iron distribution, hepcidin-ferroportin expression in bone marrow cells, and peripheral iron indices in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

METHODS

Fifty-four epoetin and iron naive CKD patients entered this prospective, observational study. According to bone marrow iron distribution (iliac crest biopsy, Perls' stain), 26 had iron deficiency anemia, 21 anemia of chronic disorders and 7 had normal iron stores. Medullar hepcidin and ferroportin expression (immunofluorescence (IF), semiquantitative scales) and serum hepcidin (Hep25 - ELISA) were the main studied parameters.

RESULTS

Low hepcidin and high ferroportin expression by erythroblast and macrophage were seen in iron deficiency anemia, while the opposites were true in anemia of chronic disorders. In regression analysis, higher Hep25 and ferritin predicted hepcidin expression (R(2)=0.48; P < 0.0001), while lower ferritin and Hep25 - predicted ferroportin expression (R(2) = 0.29; P = 0.003) by erythroblast; inflammation had no contribution. In ROC analysis, serum hepcidin and ferritin had similar moderate utility in differentiating iron deficiency anemia from anemia of chronic disorders (AUC 0.63 95% CI 0.47-0.79 and 0.76 95% CI 0.61-0.90, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, in anemic epoetin naive non-dialysis CKD patients, hepcidin and ferroportin expression by erythroblast and macrophage are closely related to bone marrow iron distribution. Although the hepcidin-ferroportin system seems regulated by ferritin-driven Hep25, serum hepcidin and peripheral iron indices are of little help in describing bone marrow iron status.