Specialization
Iron overload, iron deficiency, (innate) immune system, iron recycling, anemia of inflammation
Focus of research
Patients undergoing chronic red blood cell transfusions are at risk of iron overload, which can lead to tissue damage and organ failure if left untreated. Since a significant connection exists between iron homeostasis and the immune system, our research aims to explore the impact of (transfusion-dependent) iron overload on the functionality of immune cells (i.e. in β-thalassemia patients). We further focus on the cellular pathways that influence a cell’s sensitivity to iron-induced damage and potential protective mechanisms. Findings from these studies will offer us new insights into the immunological consequences of iron overload, help identify early biomarkers of iron overload with clinical relevance, and pave the way for targeted strategies to mitigate transfusion-induced iron toxicity in chronically transfused patients.
Besides iron overload, we focus on anemia of inflammation (AI), which develops in conditions in which systemic inflammation is present. AI is the most common cause of anemia in hospitalized or chronically ill patients. Despite adequate iron stores, retained inside red blood cell recycling macrophages in spleen and liver, serum iron concentrations are low, characterizing anemia of inflammation as a functional iron deficiency and a disorder of iron distribution. With our research we aim to better understand how anemia of inflammation controls iron recycling in order to develop more targeted therapies in the future.
In some circumstances, iron intake is inadequate to compensate for physiological or pathological losses, leading to depletion of body iron stores. For instance, by withdrawing blood from blood donors, vast amounts of iron are being transferred from donor to patient. As a result, donors may be deprived of iron due to frequent donations, ultimately leading to iron deficiency and anemia and causing whole blood donor deferral. Our research focusses on the identification of novel genetic variants or biomarkers with the goal to ultimately predict iron deficiency and/or anemia in donors and beyond.