Ferritin

Definition

Ferritin is a protein complex that stores iron and releases it in a controlled manner. It plays a crucial role in innate immunity by sequestering iron, making it unavailable to pathogens.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ferritin helps to limit bacterial infections by reducing the availability of free iron, which is essential for bacterial growth.
2. It is involved in the body's acute phase response during inflammation.
3. High levels of ferritin can be indicative of an ongoing infection or inflammatory process.
4. Ferritin can be found in most tissues, but mainly in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
5. Measuring serum ferritin levels is a common diagnostic test for assessing iron storage and detecting disorders like anemia or hemochromatosis.

Review Questions

• How does ferritin play a role in limiting bacterial infections?
• What does an elevated level of ferritin indicate in terms of health status?
• In which body tissues is ferritin primarily found?

Related terms

Transferrin: A glycoprotein that binds and transports iron throughout the bloodstream.

Lactoferrin:

An iron-binding protein found in secretory fluids like milk and saliva, also involved in antimicrobial activity.

Hemosiderin: An iron-storage complex derived from ferritin that appears when there is excess iron.