first studied the association between hepcidin and
iron metabolism during hepatic responses to iron excess.15 Regulation of hepcidin seems to focus on the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor, including the signalling pathway and its additional protein-6 (BMP6) from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, in a paracrine manner, proposed as a main physiologic controller of hepcidin.
Defensin, chemerin and hepcidin are among antimicrobial proteins.4 Especially hepcidin that among these hormones, is an peptide associated with
iron metabolism. The synthesis of hepcidin is widely stimulated by inflammation.17 IL-6 parameter that can be used as markers of inflammatory processes increases with aging.15 Because the inflammation increases with aging, hepcidin also increases.18 In our study, plasma hepcidin levels in the control group were significantly lower than IDA group.
All parameters were significantly different between the groups in terms of
iron metabolism. Table 2 summarizes the
iron metabolism parameters distribution of study and control group.
Physiology of
Iron Metabolism. Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy; 41(3): 213-21 (2014).
Apart from its role in haemoglobin, optimal
iron metabolism has been shown to independently influence physical performance, maintain core body temperature, cognition and the immune response (Agarwal, 2007).
Iron metabolism is well regulated in humans by a number of proteins, the most important one being hepcidin.
Inorganic Biochemistry of
Iron Metabolism: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Consequences, 133, pp.
[3] showed that conditional deletion of HFE in the liver induces a hemochromatosis phenotype, while its conditional deletion in duodenal cells or macrophages does not have the same effect on
iron metabolism. Liver transplantation provides a unique opportunity to elucidate the role of the liver and the intestine in the pathogenesis of iron overload in HH ([4] Dwyer JP).
In order to diagnose this condition, it is enough to perform a simple blood count and to search for its causes; besides the standard assessment of the iron serum concentration, it is worth to broaden the diagnostics by the assessment of the parameters of
iron metabolism. The interpretation of such results is not easy.
Serum iron level serves as an index of state of
iron metabolism. So, correction of iron deficiency and resulting anaemia in pregnancy decreases maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity.
Study Selection: Articles related to
iron metabolism, iron overload in patients with CHC, or the effects of iron on HCV life cycle were selected for the review.
However, further studies are required to address the safety of this combination treatment and interspecies differences in
iron metabolism between rats and human in addition to have better understanding of the role of the hepcidin.