A Putative Iron-regulatory Hormone Hepcidin

The normal physical level of iron is ensured by the rigid regulation mechanism of iron metabolism.This iron homeostasis is depended on the balance between intestinal iron absorbing and iron demanding in the body.The study showed that hepcidin may be a key factor to control intestinal iron absorbing and regulate iron homeostasis in body,and may be an important hormone of iron metabolism regulating.The iron storage state could be reflected by hepcidin,when iron was accumulated hepcidin expression was increased which then could make intestinal iron absorbing and iron storage in macrophag decreased,but when iron was deficient hepcidin expression was decreased which then could make intestinal iron absorbing and iron storage in macrophage increased.