Gadolinium toxicity: Iron and ferroportin as central targets

Abstract

Gadolinium-based magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents (GBCM) causes a devastating systemic fibrosing illness, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), in patients with reduced kidney function. GBCM targets iron-recycling CD163- and ferroportin-expressing macrophages to release labile iron that mediates gadolinium toxicity and NSF. GBCA might similarly target iron-rich, ferroportin-expressing structures such as globus pallidus and cerebellar dentate nucleus in the brain to result in metal accumulation and potential toxicity.

Keywords: Brain; Ferroportin; Gadolinium; Iron; Macrophage; Toxicity.