Iron Imports. VI. HFE and regulation of intestinal iron absorption.
The majority of clinical cases of iron overload is caused by mutations in the HFE gene. However, the role that HFE plays in the physiology of intestinal iron absorption remains enigmatic. Two major models have been proposed: 1) HFE exerts its effects on iron homeostasis indirectly, by modulating the expression of hepcidin; and 2) HFE exerts its effects directly, by changing the iron status (and therefore the iron absorptive activity) of intestinal enterocytes. The first model places the primary role of HFE in the liver (hepatocytes and/or Kupffer cells). The second model places the primary role in the duodenum (crypt cells or villus enterocytes). These models are not mutually exclusive, and it is possible that HFE influences the iron status in each of these cell populations, leading to cell type-specific downstream effects on intestinal iron absorption and body iron distribution.
Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, MO 63104, USA. flemingr@slu.edu
Robert E
RE
Fleming
Robert S
RS
Britton
D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D007501:Iron