Hepcidin and iron metabolism

Iron is an necessary microelement in human body and its content is regulated to keep normal physiological function. Recently, Hepcidin, a 25-amino acid peptide hormone, is found to be a central regulator of iron metabolism and play an important role in iron absorbtion in small intestine,iron release from macrophages and iron transportation across placenta. The quantity of hepcidin can affect iron homeostaisis and explain a series of diseases. With research of hepcidin regulation, new therapeutic perspectives for disorders of iron homeostasis,such as hemochromatosis and anemia of inflammation are doveloped.