Evidence mapPaperPMID 41502243Full record

ReviewEuropean journal of clinical investigation2026

Iron-related intercellular communication in the liver: Main players and mechanisms.

Óscar Fonseca, Paulo J Oliveira, Martina U Muckenthaler, Ana C Moreira, M Salomé Gomes

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in European journal of clinical investigation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Óscar Fonsecai3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Paulo J OliveiraCNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5201-9948
Martina U MuckenthalerDepartment of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology and Pulmonology; Center for Translational Biomedical Iron Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Ana C Moreirai3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
M Salomé Gomesi3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7657-2118

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft FerrOs-FOR5146Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft GRK2727Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SPP2306Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 2022.03635.PTDCFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 2023.00714.BDHorizon Europe 101080329
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe liver is widely recognized as a central hub for metabolic processes. Additionally, it plays critical roles in immune responses and in the regulation of iron homeostasis. Liver disorders have a profound impact on overall health and often involve iron dysregulation. Different cell types contribute to the completion of the plethora of different liver functions, including iron homeostasis.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify recent advances in the understanding of the main mechanisms of intercellular communication in the liver that determine iron regulation and flow in health and disease.

resultsHepatocytes are crucial to secure proper and safe iron storage and to regulate systemic iron distribution. For that, they contribute with the production of key proteins, such as ferritin, transferrin and hepcidin. Hepcidin production by hepatocytes is regulated by other liver cell types, including endothelial cells and macrophages. Macrophages significantly contribute to iron homeostasis by recycling iron from erythrocytes. Moreover, they modulate the physiology of other liver cells through the production of cytokines. Paracrine communication, involving soluble factors, extracellular vesicles or mitochondrial transfer, has been described as important mechanisms of iron regulation in the liver, critically contributing to its pathophysiology. Juxtacrine communication involving gap junctions or tunnelling nanotubes are mechanisms under investigation. This review highlights the recent advances in our understanding of the main mechanisms of intercellular communication in the liver that determine iron regulation and flow in health and disease.

conclusionsIro-nrelated communication between different liver cell types is fundamental to maintaining its proper function.

Indexed as

Cell CommunicationHepatocytesIronLiverAnimalsCell Membrane StructuresEndothelial CellsExtracellular VesiclesFerritinsGap JunctionsHepcidinsHomeostasisHumansKupffer CellsLiver DiseasesMacrophagesFerritinsHepcidinsIronTransferrinTunneling Nanotubeshepatocyteintercellular communicationironlivermacrophage

Identifiers

PMID41502243
PMCPMC12827848

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.