Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin01:28

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin

4.4K
Essential proteins such as insulin or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micronutrients such as iron enter a eukaryotic cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, the early endosomes fuse with the vesicles containing such receptor-ligand complexes and play a vital role in sorting the incoming ligands and receptors. While the ligands are either degraded inside the vesicle or released into the cytosol, their receptors are returned to the plasma membrane for further rounds of...
4.4K
Structure and Function of Erythrocytes01:29

Structure and Function of Erythrocytes

4.0K
There are between 4.2 and 6 million erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, in every microliter of blood. These cells are small, flattened biconcave discs with centers that are depressed.
The erythrocyte plasma membrane is associated with proteins such as spectrin, which forms a flexible cytoplasmic meshwork. This meshwork allows erythrocytes to twist, turn, become cup-shaped, and regain their biconcave shape as they pass through narrow capillaries. Additionally, erythrocytes can form...
4.0K
Lifecycle of Erythrocytes01:22

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

3.9K
Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, constantly move through blood capillaries. As a result, they damage their plasma membrane due to the continuous friction. Typically, after 100 to 120 days, erythrocytes become rigid and fragile as they wear out. As they pass through small vessels in the spleen and liver, they can get trapped and break apart into fragments.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups....
3.9K
Erythropoiesis01:14

Erythropoiesis

5.3K
Red blood cells  (RBCs) transport oxygen to all body tissues. These cells survive only for 120 days and then need to be replenished. Erythropoiesis is the process of RBC production. In healthy individuals, erythropoiesis ensures all tissues are amply supplied with oxygen. In addition, blood loss due to injury leads to a drop in the physiological oxygen level that will cause erythropoiesis. Any defect in erythropoiesis leads to several physiological disorders, including thalassemia, anemia,...
5.3K
Hemoglobin01:24

Hemoglobin

6.4K
Hemoglobin is a globular protein made up of four subunits. Two of these subunits are alpha chains, and the other two are beta chains. Each subunit contains a molecule of heme, which has an iron atom and can bind to oxygen. When an oxygen molecule binds to one heme group, it changes the shape of hemoglobin, making it easier for the other heme groups to bind oxygen as well.
When all four heme groups are bound to oxygen, the resulting molecule is called oxyhemoglobin. As a result, arterial blood...
6.4K
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis01:24

Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis

4.8K
The cardiovascular system regulates the number of erythrocytes in the bloodstream to ensure optimal oxygen transport. It also prevents over-proliferation of these cells, which helps to maintain blood viscosity and flow rate.
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
4.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mechanisms of resistance to Tmprss6 antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of β-thalassemia.

Blood·2026
Same author

Halofuginone suppresses hepcidin by a heparan sulfate-dependent mechanism to treat iron disorders in mice.

Blood advances·2026
Same author

Disease-modifying effects of iron deficiency in mouse models of chronic renal failure.

Blood. Red cells & iron·2026
Same author

Endothelial-secreted Endocan activates PDGFRA and regulates vascularity and spatial phenotype in glioblastoma.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Transgenic augmentation of erythroferrone in mice ameliorates anemia in adenine-induced chronic kidney disease.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024
Same author

Hepcidin: looking back at two decades of progress.

Nature cardiovascular research·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

12.4K

Erythroferrone structure, function, and physiology: Iron homeostasis and beyond.

Daniel N Srole1, Tomas Ganz2

  • 1Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Journal of Cellular Physiology
|December 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Erythroferrone (ERFE) regulates hepcidin, controlling iron levels. Overproduced ERFE in ineffective erythropoiesis causes iron overload, suggesting ERFE as a therapeutic target and biomarker.

Keywords:
bone morphogenetic proteinserythroferronehepcidinineffective erythropoiesisiron homeostasisβ-thalassemia

More Related Videos

Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining
07:32

Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining

Published on: May 23, 2025

729
Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay
05:08

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay

Published on: January 31, 2022

5.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

12.4K
Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining
07:32

Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining

Published on: May 23, 2025

729
Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay
05:08

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay

Published on: January 31, 2022

5.2K

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Iron Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Erythroferrone (ERFE) is a key regulator of hepcidin, the hormone governing iron homeostasis.
  • Hepcidin controls plasma and total body iron levels.
  • ERFE production increases with erythropoietin stimulation, suppressing hepcidin to mobilize iron for red blood cell synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of ERFE in iron metabolism and its implications in ineffective erythropoiesis.
  • To investigate the mechanism by which ERFE suppresses hepcidin.
  • To evaluate ERFE as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

Main Methods:

  • Mechanistic studies investigating ERFE's effect on hepcidin transcription.
  • Analysis of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways in hepatocytes.
  • Evaluation of ERFE levels in conditions of ineffective erythropoiesis.

Main Results:

  • ERFE suppresses hepcidin transcription by inhibiting BMP signaling in hepatocytes.
  • Pathological overproduction of ERFE in ineffective erythropoiesis leads to hepcidin suppression.
  • This suppression results in iron overload, even in patients not receiving transfusions.

Conclusions:

  • ERFE plays a critical role in regulating iron homeostasis by modulating hepcidin.
  • Dysregulation of ERFE contributes to iron overload in ineffective erythropoiesis.
  • ERFE is a promising biomarker for ineffective erythropoiesis and a potential therapeutic target.