title: Hepcidin: a novel peptide hormone regulating iron metabolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepcidin is a low-molecular weight hepatic peptide regulating iron homeostasis. Hepcidin inhibits the cellular efflux of iron by binding to, and inducing the internalization and degradation of, ferroportin, the exclusive iron exporter in iron-transporting cells. It has been recently recognized as a main hormone behind anemia of chronic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search was conducted from the websites of Pubmed Central, the US National Library of Medicine's digital archive of life sciences literature (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/) and the National Library of Medicine (http://www.ncbl.nlm.nih.gov). The data was also assessed from journals and books that published relevant articles in this field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepcidin regulates iron uptake constantly on a daily basis, to maintain sufficient iron stores for erythropoiesis. Hepcidin, by its iron regulatory action on iron metabolism may be expected to have an important role in immune regulation, inflammatory diseases and malignancies. Hepcidin is the underlying cause of anemia in these clinical settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepcidin analysis may prove to be a novel tool for differential diagnosis and monitoring of disorders of iron metabolism, and establishment of therapeutic measures in various disease conditions like hereditary hemochromatosis, anemia associated with chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bhawna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Sarika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests; D064451:Hepcidins; D006706:Homeostasis; D006728:Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D006728:Hormones; D007501:Iron