ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers the new information about iron in proper historical context. It discusses the ways in which iron-catalyzed oxidative reactions may fit into current theories of aging. The book offers some views on hypothesis formation and evaluation in this highly multidisciplinary area. It highlights key findings from several lines of research which form the basis for continued scrutiny of the role of iron in common diseases. The book summarizes the provocative links between iron and coronary artery disease (CAD). It show that interleukin-1 enhances the translation of apoferritin mRNA. This discovery provides an important new link between iron metabolism and the important acute phase response. The book also discusses number of deficiencies of the genetic theory of aging.
