Abstract

Hepcidin is a circulating antimicrobial peptide mainly synthesized in the liver, which has been recently proposed as a factor regulating the uptake of dietary iron and its release by reticuloendothelial macrophages. Hepcidin is a potent mediator of anemia of inflammation. Disrupted hepcidin expression is thought to mediate the pathological effects of mutations in the HFE gene in hereditary hemochromatosis. Discovery of the critical role of hepcidin in iron homeostasis could help in the design of new therapies for some iron metabolism disorders in humans. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge about the function and regulation of hepcidin in iron metabolism.

Full text