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Hepcidin—A Peptide Hormone at the Interface of Innate Immunity and Iron Metabolism

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Antimicrobial Peptides and Human Disease

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 306))

Abstract

Hepcidin is a cationic amphipathic peptide made in the liver, released into plasma and excreted in urine. Hepcidin is the homeostatic regulator of intestinal iron absorption, iron recycling by macrophages, and iron mobilization from hepatic stores, but it is also markedly induced during infections and inflammation. Under the influence of hepcidin, macrophages, hepatocytes, and enterocytes retain iron that would otherwise be released into plasma. Hepcidin acts by inhibiting the efflux of iron through ferroportin, the sole known iron exporter that is expressed in the small intestine, and in hepatocytes and macrophages. As befits an iron-regulatory hormone, hepcidin synthesis is increased by iron loading, and decreased by anemia and hypoxia. Hepcidin is also rapidly induced by cytokines, including IL-6. The resulting decrease in plasma iron levels eventually limits iron availability to erythropoiesis and contributes to the anemia associated with infection and inflammation. The decrease in extracellular iron concentrations due to hepcidin probably limits iron availability to invading microorganisms, thus contributing to host defense.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Pathology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1690, USA

    T. Ganz

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  1. T. Ganz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 3001 Rollins Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    William M. Shafer Ph.D.

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© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Ganz, T. (2006). Hepcidin—A Peptide Hormone at the Interface of Innate Immunity and Iron Metabolism. In: Shafer, W.M. (eds) Antimicrobial Peptides and Human Disease. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 306. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29916-5_7

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