Daily regulation of serum and urinary hepcidin is not influenced by submaximal cycling exercise in humans with normal iron metabolism

Hepcidin and hemojuvelin (HJV) are two critical regulators of iron metabolism as indicated by the development of major iron overload associated to mutations in hepcidin and HJV genes. Hepcidin and HJV are highly expressed in liver and muscles, respectively. Intensive muscular exercise has been reported to modify serum iron parameters and to increase hepcidinuria. The present study aimed at evaluating the potential impact of low intensity muscle exercise on iron metabolism and on hepcidin, its key regulator. Fourteen normal volunteers underwent submaximal cycling-based exercise in a crossover design and various iron parameters, including serum and urinary hepcidin, were serially studied. The results demonstrated that submaximal ergocycle endurance exercise did not modulate hepcidin. This study also indicated that hepcidinuria did not show any daily variation whereas serum hepcidin did. The findings, by demonstrating that hepcidin concentrations are not influenced by submaximal cycling exercise, may have implications for hepcidin sampling in medical practice.     

Differences in activation of mouse hepcidin by dietary iron and parenterally administered iron dextran: compartmentalization is critical for iron sensing

The iron regulatory hormone hepcidin responds to both oral and parenteral iron. Here, we hypothesized that the diverse iron trafficking routes may affect the dynamics and kinetics of the hepcidin activation pathway. To address this, C57BL/6 mice were administered an iron-enriched diet or injected i.p. with iron dextran and analyzed over time. After 1 week of dietary loading with carbonyl iron, mice exhibited significant increases in serum iron and transferrin saturation, as well as in hepatic iron, Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation and bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6), and hepcidin mRNAs. Nevertheless, hepcidin expression reached a plateau afterward, possibly due to upregulation of inhibitory Smad7, Id1, and matriptase-2 mRNAs, while hepatic and splenic iron continued to accumulate over 9 weeks. One day following parenteral administration of iron dextran, mice manifested elevated serum and hepatic iron levels and Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation, but no increases in transferrin saturation or BMP6 mRNA. Surprisingly, hepcidin failed to appropriately respond to acute overload with iron dextran, and a delayed (after 5–7 days) hepcidin upregulation correlated with increased transferrin saturation, partial relocation of iron from macrophages to hepatocytes, and induction of BMP6 mRNA. Our data suggest that the physiological hepcidin response is saturable and are consistent with the idea that hepcidin senses exclusively iron compartmentalized within circulating transferrin and/or hepatocytes.     

Iron metabolism: State of the art

Iron homeostasis relies on the amount of its absorption by the intestine and its release from storage sites, the macrophages. Iron homeostasis is also dependent on the amount of iron used for the erythropoiesis. Hepcidin, which is synthesized predominantly by the liver, is the main regulator of iron metabolism. Hepcidin reduces serum iron by inhibiting the iron exporter, ferroportin expressed both tissues, the intestine and the macrophages. In addition, in the enterocytes, hepcidin inhibits the iron influx by acting on the apical transporter, DMT1. A defect of hepcidin expression leading to the appearance of a parenchymal iron overload may be genetic or secondary to dyserythropoiesis. The exploration of genetic hemochromatosis has revealed the involvement of several genes, including the recently described BMP6. Non-transfusional secondary hemochromatosis is due to hepcidin repression by cytokines, in particular the erythroferone factor that is produced directly by the erythroid precursors. Iron overload is correlated with the appearance of a free form of iron called NTBI. The influx of NTBI seems to be mediated by ZIP14 transporter in the liver and by calcium channels in the cardiomyocytes. Beside the liver, hepcidin is expressed at lesser extent in several extrahepatic tissues where it plays its ancestral role of antimicrobial peptide. In the kidney, hepcidin modulates defense barriers against urinary tract infections. In the heart, hepcidin maintains tissue iron homeostasis by an autocrine regulation of ferroprotine expression on the surface of cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, hepcidin remains a promising therapeutic tool in various iron pathologies.     

Hepcidin expression in anemia of chronic disease and concomitant iron-deficiency anemia

Hepcidin is a key hormone governing mammalian iron homeostasis and may be directly or indirectly involved in the development of most iron deficiency/overload and inflammation-induced anemia. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of hepcidin in anemia of chronic disease. To characterize serum hepcidin, iron and inflammatory indicators associated with anemia of chronic disease (ACD), we studied ACD, ACD concomitant iron-deficiency anemia (ACD/IDA), pure IDA and acute inflammation (AcI) patients and analyzed the associations between hepcidin levels and inflammation parameters in various types of anemia. Serum hepcidin levels in patient groups were statistically different, from high to low: ACD, AcI > ACD/IDA > the control > IDA. Serum ferritin levels were significantly increased in ACD and AcI patients but were decreased significantly in ACD/IDA and IDA. Elevated serum EPO concentrations were found in ACD, ACD/IDA and IDA patients but not in AcI patients and the controls. A positive correlation between hepcidin and IL-6 levels only existed in ACD/IDA, AcI and the control groups. A positive correlation between hepcidin and ferritin was marked in the control group, while a negative correlation between hepcidin and ferritin was noted in IDA. The significant negative correlation between hepcidin expression and reticulocyte count was marked in both ACD/IDA and IDA groups. All of these data demonstrated that hepcidin might play role in pathogenesis of ACD, ACD/IDA and IDA, and it could be a potential marker for detection and differentiation of these anemias.     

Management of iron overload in hemoglobinopathies

Hemoglobinopathies, thalassemia and sickle cell disease are among the most frequent monogenic diseases in the world. Transfusion has improved dramatically their prognosis, but provokes iron overload, which induces multiple organ damages. Iron overload is related to accumulation of iron released from hemolysis and transfused red cell, but also, in thalassemic patients, secondary to ineffective erythropoiesis, which increases intestinal iron absorption via decreased hepcidin production. Transfusion-related cardiac iron overload remains a main cause of death in thalassemia in well-resourced countries, and is responsible for severe hepatic damages in sickle cell disease. Regular monitoring by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using myocardial T2* (ms) and Liver Iron Content (LIC) (mg of iron/g dry weight) are now standards of care in chronically transfused patients. Serum ferritin level measurements and record of the total number of transfused erythrocyte concentrates are also helpful tools. Three iron chelators are currently available, deferoxamine, which must be injected subcutaneously or intravenously, and two oral chelators, deferiprone and deferasirox. We will review the main characteristics of these drugs and their indications.     

Disorders of iron metabolism. Part II: iron deficiency and iron overload

MAIN DISORDERS OF IRON METABOLISM: Increased iron requirements, limited external supply, and increased blood loss may lead to iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia. In chronic inflammation, the excess of hepcidin decreases iron absorption and prevents iron recycling, resulting in hypoferraemia and iron restricted erythropoiesis, despite normal iron stores (functional iron deficiency), and finally anaemia of chronic disease (ACD), which can evolve to ACD plus true ID (ACD+ID). In contrast, low hepcidin expression may lead to hereditary haemochromatosis (HH type I, mutations of the HFE gene) and type II (mutations of the hemojuvelin and hepcidin genes). Mutations of transferrin receptor 2 lead to HH type III, whereas those of the ferroportin gene lead to HH type IV. All these syndromes are characterised by iron overload. As transferrin becomes saturated in iron overload states, non-transferrin bound iron appears. Part of this iron is highly reactive (labile plasma iron), inducing free radical formation. Free radicals are responsible for the parenchymal cell injury associated with iron overload syndromes. ROLE OF LABORATORY TESTING IN DIAGNOSIS: In iron deficiency status, laboratory tests may provide evidence of iron depletion in the body or reflect iron deficient red cell production. Increased transferrin saturation and/or ferritin levels are the main cues for further investigation of iron overload. The appropriate combination of different laboratory tests with an integrated algorithm will help to establish a correct diagnosis of iron overload, iron deficiency and anaemia. REVIEW OF TREATMENT OPTIONS: Indications, advantages and side effects of the different options for treating iron overload (phlebotomy and iron chelators) and iron deficiency (oral or intravenous iron formulations) will be discussed.     

Hepcidin knockout mice spontaneously develop chronic pancreatitis owing to cytoplasmic iron overload in acinar cells

Iron is both an essential and a potentially toxic element, and its systemic homeostasis is controlled by the iron hormone hepcidin. Hepcidin binds to the cellular iron exporter ferroportin, causes its degradation, and thereby diminishes iron uptake from the intestine and the release of iron from macrophages. Given that hepcidin‐resistant ferroportin mutant mice show exocrine pancreas dysfunction, we analysed pancreata of aging hepcidin knockout (KO) mice. Hepcidin and Hfe KO mice were compared with wild‐type (WT) mice kept on standard or iron‐rich diets. Twelve‐month‐old hepcidin KO mice were subjected to daily minihepcidin PR73 treatment for 1 week. Six‐month‐old hepcidin KO mice showed cytoplasmic acinar iron overload and mild pancreatitis, together with elevated expression of the iron uptake mediators DMT1 and Zip14. Acinar atrophy, massive macrophage infiltration, fatty changes and pancreas fibrosis were noted in 1‐year‐old hepcidin KO mice. As an underlying mechanism, 6‐month‐old hepcidin KO mice showed increased pancreatic oxidative stress, with elevated DNA damage, apoptosis and activated nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signalling. Neither iron overload nor pancreatic damage was observed in WT mice fed iron‐rich diet or in Hfe KO mice. Minihepcidin application to hepcidin KO mice led to an improvement in general health status and to iron redistribution from acinar cells to macrophages. It also resulted in decreased NF‐κB activation and reduced DNA damage. In conclusion, loss of hepcidin signalling in mice leads to iron overload‐induced chronic pancreatitis that is not seen in situations with less severe iron accumulation. The observed tissue injury can be reversed by hepcidin supplementation. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HFE-associated hereditary hemochromatosis

In populations of northern European descent, the p.C282Y mutation in the HFE gene is highly prevalent, and HFE-associated hereditary hemochromatosis is the most common type of inherited iron overload disorder. Inappropriate low secretion of hepcidin, which negatively regulates iron absorption, is postulated to be the mechanism for iron overload in this condition. The characteristic biochemical abnormalities are elevated serum transferrin-iron saturation and serum ferritin. Typical clinical manifestations include cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, elevated serum aminotransferase levels, diabetes mellitus, restrictive cardiomyopathy and arthropathy of the second and third metacarpophalangeal joints. Most patients are now diagnosed before the development of these clinical features. Molecular genetic tests are currently available for genotypic diagnosis. In selected individuals, diagnosis might require liver biopsy or quantitative phlebotomy. Iron depletion by phlebotomy is the mainstay of treatment and is highly effective in preventing the complications of iron overload if instituted before the development of cirrhosis. Genetic testing is currently not recommended for population screening because of low yield as the majority of the healthy, asymptomatic p.C282Y homozygotes do not develop clinically significant iron overload. HFE gene testing remains an excellent tool for the screening of first-degree relatives of affected probands who are p.C282Y homozygotes.     

CHOP‐mediated hepcidin suppression modulates hepatic iron load

The liver is the central regulator of iron metabolism and accordingly, chronic liver diseases often lead to systemic iron overload due to diminished expression of the iron‐regulatory hormone hepcidin. To study the largely unknown regulation of iron metabolism in the context of hepatic disease, we used two established models of chronic liver injury, ie repeated carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) or thioacetamide (TAA) injections. To determine the impact of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP)‐homologous protein (CHOP) on hepcidin production, the effect of a single TAA injection was determined in wild‐type and CHOP knockout mice. Furthermore, CHOP and hepcidin expression was assessed in control subjects and patients with alcoholic liver disease. Both chronic injury models developed a distinct iron overload in macrophages. TAA‐, but not CCl₄‐ injected mice displayed additional iron accumulation in hepatocytes, resulting in a significant hepatic and systemic iron overload which was due to suppressed hepcidin levels. C/EBPα signalling, a known hepcidin inducer, was markedly inhibited in TAA mice, due to lower C/EBPα levels and overexpression of CHOP, a C/EBPα inhibitor. A single TAA injection resulted in a long‐lasting (> 6 days) suppression of hepcidin levels and CHOP knockouts (compared to wild‐types) displayed significantly attenuated hepcidin down‐regulation in response to acute TAA administration. CHOP mRNA levels increased 5‐fold in alcoholic liver disease patients versus controls (p < 0.005) and negatively correlated with hepcidin expression. Our results establish CHOP as an important regulator of hepatic hepcidin expression in chronic liver disease. The differences in iron metabolism between the two widely used fibrosis models likely reflect the differential regulation of hepcidin expression in human liver disease. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clinical utility of serum soluble transferrin receptor levels and comparison with bone marrow iron stores as an index for iron-deficient erythropoiesis in a heterogeneous group of patients

AIM: To evaluate the correlation between raised soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and stainable marrow iron, and to define the utility of sTfR in discriminating between the presence or absence of iron-deficient erythropoiesis in patients with anaemia of chronic disease. METHODS: Seventy-six consecutive adult patients without accelerated erythropoiesis who had undergone bone marrow (BM) aspiration/trephine for various clinical reasons during 2003-2006 were studied. All patients had serum iron studies (iron, transferrin and ferritin) and sTfR performed within 1 week of BM aspiration/trephine. These 76 patients were assigned to three groups based on the iron status of the BM and sTfR level: patients with normal sTfR and normal BM iron stores (n = 49), patients with an elevated sTfR and normal BM iron stores (n = 13) and patients reduced or absent BM iron stores (n = 14). Means (95% confidence interval) for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell haemoglobin (RBC Hb) content and median (5th and 95th percentiles) for haemoglobin were then calculated. RESULTS: All patients with absent BM iron stores had an elevated sTfR level. Patients with normal BM iron stores and elevated sTfR levels had significantly lower Hb, MCV, MCHC and RBC Hb content than patients with normal BM iron stores and normal sTfR levels. CONCLUSION: sTfR is the most sensitive serum biochemical marker for the identification of iron-deficient erythropoiesis. Normal BM iron stores can coexist with elevated sTfR and decreased MCV and MCHC. sTfR levels correlate better than BM iron stores with decreased MCV and MCHC. Therefore, sTfR is a useful marker of iron-deficient erythropoiesis, due to both absent iron stores, and restricted iron supply due to anaemia of chronic disease. As a single investigation, however, sTfR does not discriminate between these two causes of iron-deficient erythropoiesis.     

GDF15、BNP在慢性心力衰竭患者血清中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨慢性心力衰竭患者血清生长分化因子15(growth differentiation factor 15,GDF15)水平与NYHA心功能分级、血浆脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)相关性及临床意义.方法:慢性心力衰竭患者80例,对照组30例,采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定血清GDF15水平,微粒子酶免疫分析(MEIA)检测血浆BNP水平,NYHA心功能分级标准对慢性心力衰竭组进行分级.比较慢性心力衰竭组与对照组血清GDF15浓度的变化,分析GDF15与BNP的相关性,了解GDF15与NYHA心功能分级之间的相关性.结果:慢性心力衰竭组血清GDF15水平(2840.85±846.18 ng/l)和对照组(807.33±355.56 ng/l)比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);NYHA心功能分级不同亚组GDF15水平具有明显差别(P＜0.01).慢性心力衰竭组血清GDF15与血浆BNP水平呈显著正相关(r=0.798,P＜0.05),GDF15水平随BNP水平的升高而升高;与NYHA心功能分级正相关(r=0.840,P=0.000),随NYHA心功能分级的增高而升高.结论:血清GDF15可能作为慢性心力衰竭患者一个新的生物标志物,可以客观评价心力衰竭的严重程度,预测患者的活动耐量.血清GDF15浓度与血浆BNP、NYHA心功能分级呈正相关,为综合评价心力衰竭患者心功能状态提供了一个新的思路.     

铁代谢对于β地中海贫血表型的修饰作用的研究进展

β地中海贫血(简称地贫)是由于β珠蛋白基因缺陷导致β珠蛋白肽链合成减少的遗传性溶血性疾病。其病理机制为α/β珠蛋白肽链比例严重失衡,多余的α珠蛋白链沉积形成包涵体,引发红细胞溶血、无效造血以及继发性多组织器官铁超载等。机体铁负荷过重可能导致生长发育停滞、肝硬化、心功能不全等并发症,加重其表型。近年来,随着机体铁代谢相关基因相继被发现,铁代谢在地贫的发生发展过程中的机理逐渐被阐明。研究人员通过改变铁调素、转铁蛋白受体等铁代谢关键基因的表达,揭示了限制红细胞铁应用可改善β地贫无效造血和铁过载的症状,为治疗地贫提供了一个新的途径。本文围绕铁代谢相关基因以及通路在β地贫中的研究进展进行综述。     

Reduced levels of hepcidin associated with lower ferritin concentration and increased number of previous donations in periodic blood donors: A pilot study

BackgroundHepcidin is one of the major negative regulators of iron balance. Periodic blood donors are highly susceptible to iron deficiency. Our goal was to evaluate the possible association between serum hepcidin levels and iron homeostasis parameters in periodic blood donors.Materials and MethodsWe enrolled a total of n = 39 periodic healthy blood donors (n = 24 M and n = 15 F). A solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure endogenous hepcidin-25 levels in serum biospecimens collected from each study participant. Statistical analysis evaluated possible associations between hepcidin levels and ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT), and number of previous donations.ResultsReduced serum hepcidin levels significantly correlated with lower ferritin concentration (r = 0.56, IC 95%: 0.51–0.60, p < 0.01). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that hepcidin levels were independently and negatively correlated with ferritin (p < 0.01). In addition, the number of previous blood donations was significantly associated with reduced hepcidin levels, independently of the other covariates (p < 0.01).ConclusionReduced serum hepcidin levels were significantly associated with reduced levels of ferritin and with increased number of previous donations suggesting its possible clinical role as non-invasive “point-of-care” in predicting iron deficiency among periodic blood donors.     

A bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-responsive element in the hepcidin promoter controls HFE2-mediated hepatic hepcidin expression and its response to IL-6 in cultured cells

The precise regulation of the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin is essential to maintain body iron homeostasis: Hepcidin deficiency induces iron overload, and hepcidin excess results in anaemia. Mutations in the gene HFE2 cause severe iron overload and are associated with low hepcidin expression. Recent data suggest that HFE2 is a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) co-receptor, and that the decreased hepcidin mRNA expression because of HFE2 dysfunction is a result of impaired BMP signalling ability. In this study, we identify a critical BMP-responsive element (BMP-RE) at position -84/-79 of the hepcidin promoter. We show that this element mediates HFE2-dependent basal hepcidin mRNA expression under control conditions. Unexpectedly, the mutation of the same BMP-RE element also severely impairs hepcidin activation in response to IL-6. These data uncover a missing link in the HFE2-mediated control of hepcidin expression and suggest that the BMP-RE controls hepcidin promoter activity mediated by HFE2 and inflammatory stimuli.     

旋转恒定磁场对骨质疏松大鼠血清铁和铁调素的影响

目的：研究旋转恒定磁场对骨质疏松大鼠铁代谢的影响,进而探讨磁场治疗骨质疏松的可能机制。方法：雌性SD大鼠灌胃维甲酸建立骨质疏松模型,经Micro．CT分析大鼠T4胸椎骨密度并确定造模成功后,将骨质疏松模型随机分为磁场治疗组（曝磁组）和非治疗组（骨质疏松组）,并设立正常对照。曝磁组每天曝磁2小时,磁场强度0．4T。连续曝磁30天后检测各组大鼠血清铁和血清铁调素浓度,采用Real—timeRT—PCR方法检测肝脏中铁调素mRNA的表达。结果：经磁场治疗后．曝磁组大鼠T4胸椎骨密度较骨质疏松组显著升高（P〈0．01）。磁场能够下调骨质疏松大鼠血清铁浓度,并且能够上调血清中铁调素的表达。结论：上调骨质疏松大鼠血清铁调素的表达从而引起血清铁含量的降低是旋转恒定磁场治疗骨质疏松的可能机制。     

补充纳米生血铁剧烈运动大鼠肝脏铁调素mRNA的表达

背景：如何提高高强度运动应激条件下人体补铁的效益,维持机体铁稳态,快速升高血色素水平成为广大教练员、体育科学研究者关注的焦点。 目的：观察补充纳米生血铁对剧烈运动大鼠肝脏铁调素mRNA表达的影响。 方法：将60只SD大鼠随机分为4组：安静状态补充安慰剂组、高强度运动补充安慰剂组、安静灌胃补充纳米生血铁组、高强度运动灌胃补充纳米生血铁组。 结果与结论：与安静状态补充安慰剂组比较,高强度运动补充安慰剂组大鼠肝脏铁调素mRNA表达增加、血清铁浓度减低、血清总铁结合力增加、转铁蛋白饱和度减低、血色素浓度减低;安静灌胃补充纳米生血铁组、高强度运动灌胃补充纳米生血铁组大鼠肝脏铁调素mRNA表达均减少,血清铁浓度、血清总铁结合力及血清转铁蛋白饱和度均增加,安静灌胃补充纳米生血铁组大鼠血色素浓度增加,高强度运动灌胃补充纳米生血铁组大鼠血色素浓度减低,但减少程度低于高强度运动补充安慰剂组。表明补充纳米生血铁可显著抑制大强度递增负荷剧烈运动后大鼠肝脏铁调素mRNA的表达,增加肠道对铁的吸收,提升血清铁和血色素水平,减轻运动性血色素减少程度。