The iron content of tissue macrophages increases under conditions of elevated extracellular iron. Studies of macrophage iron acquisition have generally focused on iron uptake from transferrin via receptor-mediated endocytosis. However, in vivo macrophages are also exposed to extracellular low m.w. iron chelates, particularly under conditions of iron overload. Therefore, we examined the mechanism of iron acquisition from low m.w. chelates by human monocyte-derived macrophages. Iron acquisition was influenced by the nature of the iron chelate: Fe-ascorbate > Fe-citrate > Fe-nitrilotriacetate (NTA) = Fe-ADP > Fe-glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine > Fe-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid >> Fe-EDTA = Fe-deferoxamine. With the exception of Fe-EDTA and Fe-deferoxamine, iron acquisition was greater than that with diferric transferrin. As assessed by using iron acquisition from NTA as a model, the process is temperature dependent, but pH independent (pH 5 to 8), and is influenced by the medium in which the cells are suspended. Acquisition is not affected by NaF, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, NaCN, or monocyte-derived macrophage exposure to trypsin, pronase, phenylarsine oxide, dihydrocytochalasin B, filipin, nystatin, or digitonin. The rate of iron acquisition from NTA is induced by iron pre-exposure as well as aluminum. In contrast, NTA chelates of other transition metals (Cd, Cu, Ga, Mn, and Zn) inhibited iron uptake by 20 to 80%. Unlike results obtained with Ga-NTA, Ga(NO3)3 increased iron uptake from NTA. Data obtained with neutrophils, and undifferentiated U937 and HL-60 cells were similar, which suggests that myeloid cells share this pathway for iron acquisition. Iron acquisition via this mechanism may allow macrophages and other leukocytes to clear local states of iron overload in vivo.