Hepcidin in acute iron toxicity.
BACKGROUND
Hepcidin regulates extracellular iron concentration by inhibiting iron release from macrophages and preventing iron absorption in the intestine. Our objective was to evaluate the expression of hepcidin in the liver in acute iron poisoning in a rat model.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were assigned to group 1, who received 750 mg/kg elemental iron (LD(50)) by gavage, and group 2 (control), who received distilled water. Iron concentrations and liver transaminases were measured in the serum. Hepcidin messenger RNA levels were measured in the liver.


RESULTS
Mean serum iron levels, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and uric acid were significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (P < .0001, P = .01, P < .0001, and P = 0.0001, respectively). Hepcidin messenger RNA levels in the liver were significantly higher in the study group (P = .005).


CONCLUSIONS
In acute iron intoxication, hepcidin expression in the liver significantly increased. Further studies are needed to determine whether hepcidin levels correlate with the severity of the intoxication.
Toledano
Michal
M
Pharmacy Department, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Kozer
Eran
E
Goldstein
Lee H
LH
Abu-Kishk
Ibrahim
I
Bar-Haim
Adina
A
Siman-Tov
Yariv
Y
Rechavi
Moshe
M
Rechavi
Gideon
G
Weizer-Stern
Orly
O
Berkovitch
Matitiahu
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D064451:Hepcidins; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000506:poisoning*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578703:Hamp protein, rat; D064451:Hepcidins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014527:Uric Acid; D007501:Iron; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase