The Regulation of the Iron Metabolism and the Therapeutic Potential of the Hormone Hepcidin

A number of blood disorders is associated with altered iron uptake, processing and storage in the human body. The iron is an essential component of many proteins participating in virtually all metabolic processes. On the other hand, iron produces free radicals which trigger or at least risk factors for many diseases. The understanding of iron resorption and of its use in the body is thus crucial for the development of new drugs and therapeutic approaches, e.g. for the treatment of anemias or hemochromatosis (hereditary iron overload).

In particular, we have focused on the peptide hormone hepcidin, the main regulator of the iron storage and release. We have identified its main transporters in the serum and we aim to explore the possibility to regulate the iron metabolism by manipulating hepcidin levels in the body. The research in this field is performed in cooperation with the Institute of Pathological Physiology of the First Medical Faculty of Charles University and is supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (grant project No 15-14200S).