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Effect of estrogen on iron metabolism in mammals

YANG Xiao, XU Man-Man, WANG Jun, XIE Jun-Xia

Class 9, Grade 2013, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China； Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders and State Key Disciplines: Physiology (in incubation), Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China

Abstract

Estrogen is a steroid hormone produced mainly by the ovaries. It combines with the nuclear receptors to exert the biological effects influencing the metabolism of body. Elevated levels of estrogen are often associated with altered iron levels in mammals. Furthermore, the findings of estrogen response element (ERE) have demonstrated that estrogen affects iron metabolism directly in peripheral tissues. In this review, we will briefly summarize the effect of estrogen on iron metabolism in mammals, and discuss recent progress in the mechanisms of estrogen on some iron related proteins in order to provide guidance for clinical use of estrogen. Estrogen and iron metabolism are closely related, but the exact regulatory mechanisms still need further exploration.

Key words: Estrogen; iron; estrogen response element

Received: 2016-02-25　　Accepted: 2016-06-29

Corresponding author: 谢俊霞　　E-mail: jxiaxie@public.qd.sd.cn

Citing This Article：

YANG Xiao, XU Man-Man, WANG Jun, XIE Jun-Xia. Effect of estrogen on iron metabolism in mammals. Acta Physiol Sin 2016; 68 (5): 637-643 (in Chinese with English abstract).