The study was conducted by researchers from the German Center for Cancer Research, and they were surprised by the significant decrease in white blood cells with iron deficiency.
Close examination showed that the decline was caused by a lack of neutrophils, which account for two-thirds of white blood cells in humans.
According to the report published in the journal Science Advances, due to iron deficiency, it was found that primary cells in the bone marrow do not develop into mature neutrophils, as their differentiation appears to depend on iron.
Other types of white blood cells, such as monocytes, were not affected by the iron level.
double-edged sword
“This strong dependence on iron from neutrophils was not previously known. It may affect the immune defense once morest bacterial pathogens,” said Bruno Galli, who led the study.
“Interestingly, iron deficiency is one of the body’s defense strategies in bacterial infection, as many pathogens depend on iron. To slow their reproduction, the body stores the metal in certain cells such as a storage room that makes it difficult for pathogens to access this valuable resource.”