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Hepcidin

Liver-produced 25-amino-acid peptide hormone that regulates systemic iron homeostasis by binding to the iron exporter ferroportin and inducing its internalization and degradation.

Hepcidin is the master regulator of iron flux. When iron stores or inflammation rise, hepatocytes upregulate hepcidin via the BMP-SMAD pathway (BMP6, hemojuvelin, HJV) and STAT3 in response to IL-6. Hepcidin then binds ferroportin on enterocytes, macrophages, and hepatocytes, triggering endocytosis and degradation. The result is decreased dietary iron absorption and decreased iron release from macrophage recycling. Inappropriately high hepcidin causes anemia of chronic inflammation; inappropriately low hepcidin (HFE mutations, hemochromatosis) causes iron overload.

How one textbook covers it

  • Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 10: Iron

    Hepcidin is the master regulator of iron flux. When iron stores or inflammation rise, hepatocytes upregulate hepcidin via the BMP-SMAD pathway (BMP6, hemojuvelin, HJV) and STAT3 in response to IL-6. Hepcidin then binds ferroportin on enterocytes, macrophages, and hepatocytes, triggering endocytosis and degradation. The result is decreased dietary iron absorption and decreased iron release from macrophage recycling. Inappropriately high hepcidin causes anemia of chronic inflammation; inappropriately low hepcidin (HFE mutations, hemochromatosis) causes iron overload.

Related terms

DMT1, Ferroportin, Hemochromatosis, Iron deficiency anemia