Ferritin is a ubiquitous intracellular protein complex that primarily functions in iron storage and regulation. It safely sequesters free iron, preventing its participation in harmful redox reactions that can produce reactive oxygen species. Composed of 24 subunits forming a nanocage, ferritin stores iron in a bioavailable yet non-toxic form. While most ferritin is found intracellularly in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, a small amount circulates in the blood, making serum ferritin a convenient and non-invasive biomarker of total body iron stores. Its levels are tightly regulated under normal physiological conditions, but they can be significantly influenced by various pathophysiological states.
In clinical and research settings, ferritin is widely used as a biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring iron-related disorders. Low serum ferritin is a sensitive and specific indicator of iron deficiency, even before anemia manifests. Conversely, elevated ferritin levels may suggest iron overload conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis, but they can also reflect inflammatory or infectious processes, as ferritin is an acute-phase reactant. In research, ferritin is increasingly studied in the context of chronic diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic syndromes, as its dysregulation may contribute to disease pathogenesis or progression. Understanding ferritin dynamics is thus essential for developing targeted interventions and improving diagnostic accuracy.
This product is manufactured in USA by Eagle Biosciences.