Promising roles of combined therapy based on immune response and iron metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an intricate autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations. Immunometabolism reprogramming contributes to the progression of SLE by regulating the phenotype and function of immune cells. Dysregulated iron metabolism is implicated in SLE pathogenesis, affecting both systemic and immune cell-specific iron homeostasis. This review explores the systemic and cellular iron handling and regulation. Additionally, the advancements regarding iron metabolism in SLE with a focus on the distinct subsets of immune cells are highlighted. By gaining insight into the interplay between iron dysregulation and immune dysfunction, the potential therapeutic avenues may be unveiled. However, challenges remain in elucidating cell-specific iron metabolic reprogramming and its contribution to SLE pathogenesis needs further research for personalized therapeutic interventions and biomarker discovery. This review provides an in-depth understanding of immune cell-specific regulatory mechanisms of iron metabolism and new insights in current challenges as well as possible clinical applications.