The emerging role of the liver in iron metabolism.
Iron is essential in health and well-being and its dysregulation is a common theme in disease. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology underlying hemochromatosis and anemia has provided insight into the complex mechanisms implicated in iron metabolism. The proximal small bowel is the major site of iron absorption and, it is becoming increasingly clear that the regulation of this process involves the liver and, in particular, the hepatic antimicrobial peptide hepcidin. A number of studies have shown hepcidin to have an inhibitory function at the level of small bowel iron absorption, although its exact site of action remains to be elucidated. Clearly, identifying the target of hepcidin is of importance and is likely to lead to the development of therapeutic agents in the treatment of iron disorders.
Sharma
Naveen
N
Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK.
Butterworth
Jeffrey
J
Cooper
Brian T
BT
Tselepis
C
C
Iqbal
Tariq H
TH
D015703:Antigens, CD; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000502:physiology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C068126:CD71 antigen; D016207:Cytokines; C578702:HAMP protein, human; C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D007501:Iron