Hepcidin levels in humans are correlated with hepatic iron stores, hemoglobin levels, and hepatic function.
Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron metabolism, is synthesized by the liver. Hepcidin binds to the iron exporter ferroportin to regulate the release of iron into plasma from macrophages, hepatocytes, and enterocytes. We analyzed liver samples from patients undergoing hepatic surgery for cancer or receiving liver transplants and analyzed correlations between clinical parameters and liver hepcidin mRNA and urinary hepcidin concentrations. Despite the many potential confounding influences, urinary hepcidin concentrations significantly correlated with hepatic hepcidin mRNA concentrations, indicating that hepcidin quantification in urine is a valid approach to evaluate hepcidin expression. Moreover, we found in humans that hepcidin levels correlated with hepatic iron stores and hemoglobin levels and may also be affected by hepatic dysfunction.
Détivaud
Lénaïck
L
Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, Rennes, France.
Nemeth
Elizabeta
E
Boudjema
Karim
K
Turlin
Bruno
B
Troadec
Marie-Bérengère
MB
Leroyer
Patricia
P
Ropert
Martine
M
Jacquelinet
Sylvie
S
Courselaud
Brice
B
Ganz
Tomas
T
Brissot
Pierre
P
Loréal
Olivier
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D006454:Hemoglobins; D064451:Hepcidins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA