Table 2.

Effects of cytokines on iron metabolism and erythropoiesis

Cytokines	Effects on red cell dynamics
TNF-α inhibition of erythropoietin production	Stimulation of ferritin synthesis
	Enhances degradation and phagocytosis of effete red cells
	Direct inhibition of erythropoiesis
IFN- γ inhibits production of erythropoietin	Increases intracellular iron by stimulation of DMT-1 and inhibition of ferroportin
	Increased nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression
IL-6 increases iron uptake via DMT-1 activation	Reduces TfR by decreasing TfR RNA expression
	Downregulates expression of SLC4a1 in erythroid precursors
IL-4 and −10 increase ferritin via action on iron regulatory elements/proteins