Loss of the hepatic protein hepcidin can lead to severe iron overload with symptoms resembling those of hemochromatosis. Which of the following functions of hepcidin accounts for the iron overload when the protein is deficient?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hepcidin decreases the level of intestinal membrane iron transporters, such as ferroportin, leading to reduced iron absorption. When hepcidin is deficient, iron absorption increases, causing iron overload.  Regulation of iron absorption, recycling, and release from intracellular stores is effected primarily as a consequence of the actions of the hepatic iron regulatory protein hepcidin. Hepcidin functions by inhibiting the presentation of one or more of the iron transporters (eg, DMT1 and ferroportin) in intestinal membranes. With a high iron diet the level of hepcidin mRNA increases and conversely its levels decrease when dietary iron is low. This is occurring simultaneous to reciprocal changes in the levels of the transporters.

Loss of the Hepatic Protein Hepcidin Can Lead to Severe