A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has found a link between iron deficiency and cell growth. The findings, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, suggest that cells deprived of iron can’t grow as quickly as they normally would, making them more vulnerable to disease. This could lead to novel treatments for diseases caused by faulty cell growth, such as cancer.

Researchers studied human cultured cells that lacked a protein called transferrin receptor 1, which helps cells absorb iron from the body. Without this receptor, these cells were unable to take up iron and were thus unable to grow. The scientists then added a drug called deferiprone, which is known to increase the uptake of iron into cells. They found that the cells treated with deferiprone were able to grow much more quickly than the untreated cells.

These findings suggest that iron deficiency can impair cell growth and lead to diseases like cancer. The researchers hope that their work will lead to new treatments to increase iron uptake and reduce the risk of disease.

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source: Phys.org