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Iron-sensing proteins that regulate hepcidin and enteric iron absorption.
1Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-2710, USA. mknutson@ufl.edu
Annual Review of Nutrition
|April 27, 2010
Summary
The human body tightly regulates iron absorption using the hormone hepcidin to prevent iron deficiency or overload. This review details proteins sensing iron and controlling hepcidin production for iron homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The human body lacks an efficient mechanism for excreting excess iron, necessitating strict regulation of iron absorption.
- Iron absorption is primarily controlled by hepcidin, an iron-regulatory hormone produced by the liver.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the proteins involved in hepatic hepcidin production and intestinal iron absorption.
- To emphasize proteins that sense iron levels and coordinate responses to iron deficiency and overload.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on molecular and cellular mechanisms of iron regulation.
- Analysis of proteins involved in sensing iron and modulating hepcidin expression.
Main Results:
- Hepcidin production is dynamically regulated by body iron status, increasing with iron loading and decreasing in iron deficiency.
- Specific proteins directly sense intracellular and extracellular iron levels.
- These sensing proteins orchestrate molecular and cellular pathways controlling hepcidin synthesis and release.
Conclusions:
- Hepcidin is central to maintaining iron homeostasis by regulating iron absorption and cellular iron release.
- Understanding the iron-sensing proteins is crucial for comprehending the fine-tuning of iron metabolism.
- This intricate regulatory network ensures adequate iron supply while preventing toxicity.
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