Red blood cells
A gene known to prevent autoimmune diseases is a key regulator in iron uptake, according to research published in Cell Reports.
“We found previously that, when mice lack the gene Regnase-1, they suffer from severe autoimmune diseases and anemia,” said study author Masanori Yoshinaga, MD, of Kyoto University in Japan.
“At first, we assumed that anemia was a secondary effect, but, after detailed analysis, we found that the 2 symptoms develop independently.”
Continued study of mice with a Regnase-1 mutation revealed a functional defect in the principal site for iron absorption in the body, the duodenum.
“The next step was to find the role of Regnase-1 in iron-uptake maintenance,” Dr Yoshinaga said. “We started by looking at the most important iron-uptake gene, Transferrin Receptor 1, or TfR1.”
“Our results showed that Regnase-1 degrades the mRNA of TfR1, thereby inhibiting the synthesis of the TfR1 protein and, additionally, that it likely regulates other important iron-controlling genes.”
“Further analysis of Regnase-1 in iron-related homeostasis may provide insight into the mechanisms causing anemia and other iron-related disorders, perhaps eventually leading to new methods of treatment,” said study author Osamu Takeuchi, MD, PhD, of Kyoto University.
