title: Hepcidin and its role in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Anemia is one of the most common extraintestinal symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The pathophysiology of anemia in IBD is complex. It may be developed in the course of inflammation, intestinal bleeding or disorders of iron absorption. Hepcidin, discovered in the year 2000, is an endogenous peptide responsible for iron homeostasis. Recent data suggests that hepcidin is a major mediator of anemia and plays a central role in iron homeostasis and metabolism. This paper presents information about hepcidin structure and function, mechanisms of the regulation of the synthesis and current data about the role of this hormone in IBD-related anemia. Assessment of hepcidin levels in patients with IBD may become a key element in the treatment of anemia in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dietetics, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dudkowiak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poniewierka
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064451:Hepcidins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007501:Iron