Biological Uses and Importance of Iron Regulation

Abstract

Iron is an exceedingly important nutrient of the human body that has the ability to proceed the formation of free radicals and helps in the process of redox cycling with many different roles in metastasis and in microenvironment. It is required for many complex biological processes occurring in cells and inevitable for its viability and human survival. Such processes include oxygen transportation within body, cell proliferation and growth. It produces free radicals and has redox cycling capacity which may be responsible for tumorigenesis as well. Iron metabolic pathways are new therapeutic strategies for improving cancer prognosis and treatment as reprogramming of iron metabolism is a key aspect for tumor cells growth and survival.