Abstract

FORRELLAT BARRIOS, Mariela  and  FERNANDEZ DELGADO, Norma. Hepcidine: a new molecule opening up new horizons. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2996.

In the last few years, at least 7 new molecules related to iron homeostasis have been discovered, which changes the vision on iron metabolism. Hepcidin is likely to be the most interesting molecule because it is considered as a negative regulator of iron uptake in the small intestine and of iron release by the macrophages. This liver-synthetized cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptide appears to be a key element in the regulation of iron absorption and kinetics in the body. Both iron and inflammatory stimulus control hepcidin expression, therefore it is considered an acute-phase reactant. Hepcidin constitutes an attractive candidate for mediator in anemia of chronic processes and in other iron metabolism disorders, which turns this molecule into a promising element for the diagnosis and treatment of these pathological states

Keywords : hepcidin; iron; anemia in chronic processes.