Iron links endogenous and exogenous nanoparticles

Current progress in biology and medical science is based on the observation at the level of nanometers via electron microscopy and computation. Of note, the size of most cells in higher species exists in a limited range from 5 to 50 μm. Recently, it was demonstrated that endogenous extracellular nanoparticles play a role in communication among various cellular types in a variety of contexts. Among them, exosomes in serum have been established as biomarkers for human diseases by analyzing the cargo molecules. No life on the earth can survive without iron. However, excess iron can be a risk for carcinogenesis in rodents and humans. Nano-sized molecules may cause unexpected bioeffects, including carcinogenesis, which is a process to establish cellular iron addiction with ferroptosis-resistance. Asbestos and carbon nanotubes are the typical examples, leading to carcinogenesis by the alteration of iron metabolism. Recently, we found that CD63, one of the representative markers of exosomes, is under the regulation of iron-responsive element/iron-regulatory protein system. This is a safe strategy to share excess iron in the form of holo-ferritin between iron-sufficient and -deficient cells. On the other hand, damaged cells may secrete holo-ferritin-loaded exosomes as in the case of macrophages in ferroptosis after asbestos exposure. These holo-ferritin-loaded exosomes can cause mutagenic DNA damage in the recipient mesothelial cells. Thus, there is an iron link between exogenous and endogenous nanoparticles, which requires further investigation for better understanding and the future applications.