Iron Homeostasis Pathways as Therapeutic Targets in Acute Kidney Injury

Iron is critical for fundamental biologic functions such as cell division and mitochondrial electron transport. However, by the virtue of its ability to donate electrons, iron is probably the most effective oxidant in biologic systems.

To avoid damage from iron-mediated oxidative injury or ferroptosis, multiple defense mechanisms exist including iron binding proteins and robust glutathione-dependent intracellular pathways. Hepcidin, through its ability to sequester iron within macrophages and induce H-ferritin, serves as an endogenous protective molecule against ferroptosis. Key Messages: Recent studies have demonstrated the protective role of hepcidin in both ischemic reperfusion injury and heme-mediated models of acute kidney injury (AKI). Ferroptosis-inhibiting drugs and hepcidin offer exciting novel prospects to treat AKI.