Excess iron or iron deficiency are major causes of human illness. Most adults maintain body iron levels between 3-5 grammes. Homeostasis is controlled by regulating iron absorption from the diet through the small intestine. Proteins that bind, transport, store, oxidize and reduce iron have been identified, but how the molecules act in concert to achieve iron homeostasis is unclear, and the pathogenesis of iron overload diseases is also poorly understood.

These pages give more details about this work of the Molecular Immunology lab.