A role for the immunological system in iron homeostasis But how

Maria de Sousa, Eugenia Cruz, Luciana Costa and Manuela Santos 

In this chapter we consider the question of how, in vivo, iron, an element with such potential toxicity, scarce, and difficult to extract from the external environment, became crucial to the evolution of organisms with complex body plans. How, particularly in mammals, did the constancy of its levels become practically autonomous and independent of the external environment. Finally, how did the different components of the immunological system seem to have critical roles in the strict homeostasis of iron in the mammals. 

We shall review first the evolution of the red blood cell and the role of the phagocytic component of the immunological system in securing the autonomy of the iron levels necessary for oxygen transport and delivery. 

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