The effect of the host's iron status on tuberculosis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Johan R Boelaert (Author) Other; Stefaan J Vandecasteele (Author) Other; Rui Appelberg (Author) ICBAS; Victor R Gordeuk (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Infectious Diseases

Vol. 195

Pages: 1745-1753

ISSN: 0022-1899

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 69 Citations

Scopus - 56 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-9BS

DOI: 10.1186/518040

Abstract (EN): Several lines of evidence have suggested that iron is critical for Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in macrophages. Macrophage iron loading in patients with African iron overload increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) and may worsen TB outcome. Likewise, macrophage iron loading may contribute to an increased predisposition toward TB in HIV infection. Human genetic disorders or variations may increase the risk of TB or worsen its outcome through macrophage iron loading, including the haptoglobin 2-2 phenotype, NRAMP1 polymorphisms (at least in Africans and Asians), and possibly ferroportin 1 mutations, but not HFE hemochromatosis. Thus, the host's iron status may be an important yet underevaluated factor in TB prevention and therapy and in TB vaccine design.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9