The hepcidin-ferroportin system as a therapeutic target in anemias and iron overload disorders

Tomas Ganz1, Elizabeta Nemeth

  • 1Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. tganz@mednet.ucla.edu

The review summarizes the current understanding of the role of hepcidin and ferroportin in normal iron homeostasis and its disorders. The various approaches to therapeutic targeting of hepcidin and ferroportin in iron-overload disorders (mainly hereditary hemochromatosis and β-thalassemia) and iron-restrictive anemias (anemias associated with infections, inflammatory disorders, and certain malignancies, anemia of chronic kidney diseases, and iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia) are also discussed.

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