Med. praxi. 2011;8(3):127-129

The role of hepcidin in the diagnosis and treatment of anemias

MUDr.Petra Bělohlávková

II. interní klinika, oddělení klinické hematologie, FN a LF UK Hradec Králové

Hepcidin is a small peptide hormone consisting of 25 amino acids that is predominantly synthesized in the liver. Hepcidin plays a key role

in the regulation of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin acts by regulation of its receptor, ferroportin. Ferroportin presents the sole cellular iron

exporter and the iron-hepcidin axis contribute to the pathogenesis of different anemias and on the other hand iron overload. Hepcidin

synthesis is induced by iron overload, inflammation and supressed by erythropoiesis or hypoxia. The possibility of hepcidin assays will be

facilitated the diagnosis of different forms of anemias. It is also possible that in the future, our therapeutic experience will be enhanced

by hepcidin-agonists or hepcidin-antagonists.

Key word: hepcidin, ferroportin, iron metabolism, anemia.

Keywords: hepcidin, feroportin, metabolizmus železa, anémie

Published: March 23, 2011  Show citation