ferritiin
Ferritin is a ubiquitous iron-storage protein that plays a central role in iron metabolism. In humans, ferritin exists as a soluble serum form and as intracellular ferritin found mainly in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and reticuloendothelial system. The protein shell is composed of 24 subunits, typically a mix of heavy (H) and light (L) chains, and encloses a ferric iron (ferrihydrite) mineral core that can store up to about 4,500 iron atoms. The primary biological function of ferritin is to sequester iron safely, protecting cells from iron-catalyzed free radical damage and providing a readily available iron reservoir for metabolic needs. Iron is released from ferritin through ferroportin when cells require it, a process integrated with systemic iron regulation involving hepcidin.
Serum ferritin is a widely used laboratory marker of total body iron stores, but it behaves as
Ferritin levels are measured by immunoassays and are interpreted alongside other iron indicators such as transferrin