Contemporary Views of Iron Homeostasis with Main Focus of Hepcidin - New Hormone Regulator of Iron Metabolism

Abstract

Iron is an essential element of almost all living organisms. It is key functional part of oxygen transporters, depositary molecules and many enzymes which catalyze redox reactions necessary to generate the energy, products of various metabolic intermediates and defense. Studies have shown that a key regulator of iron homeostasis is hepcidin and set the liver as the central authority in the system of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin is cationic peptide composed of 25 amino acids and four disulfide bonds. Recently it was revealed that circulating hepcidin with a relatively high affinity is bound to α2-macroglobulin and with relatively low affinity is bound to albumin. In addition to its role in regulation systemic metabolism of iron, hepcidinot can contribute to host defense. Hepcidinot was originally identified as an antimicrobial peptide and found that it could indirectly contribute to host defense by reducing the concentration of iron in plasma.