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Published on: February 2, 2018
Hemojuvelin is essential for transferrin-dependent and transferrin-independent hepcidin expression in mice
Thomas B Bartnikas1, Mark D Fleming
1Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tbartnikas@enders.tch.harvard.edu
Abstract:
Here we investigate the regulation of hepcidin, a hormone that inhibits dietary iron absorption and macrophage iron recycling, by the serum iron-binding protein transferrin. Mice deficient in transferrin (Tf(hpx/hpx)) and hemojuvelin (Hjv(-/-)), a gene mutated in juvenile hemochromatosis, a disease of hepcidin deficiency and iron overload, were generated. While Tf(hpx/hpx) Hjv(+/+) and Tf(hpx/hpx) Hjv(-/-) phenotypes did not differ markedly, transferrin treatment and RBC transfusions robustly increased hepcidin levels in Tf(hpx/hpx) Hjv(+/+) but not Tf(hpx/hpx) Hjv(-/-)mice. These results suggest that, while hemojuvelin is not essential for the establishment or maintenance of hepcidin deficiency in transferrin-deficient mice, hemojuvelin is essential for transferrin-dependent and transferrin-independent hepcidin expression in conditions of iron overload.
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