Disruption of the hepcidin/ferroportin regulatory circuitry causes increased pulmonary iron content and restrictive lung disease

All cell types of the lung, including airways, parenchyma and inflammatory cells need iron for metabolic processes. However, they must prevent iron overload which causes cellular damage due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The risk for oxidative damage in the lung is exacerbated by its continuous exposure to high oxygen levels making iron detoxification within airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages an essential mechanism to prevent lung failure. The aim of our study is to determine the (patho)physiological consequences of unbalanced iron homeostasis in the lung. For this purpose, we…