Vet Pathology Wiki

Choose the correct answer

What is the action of hepcidin?

Hepcidin binds to the iron exporter ferroportin, causing its internalization and breakdown in lysosomes

Binds to absorbed Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ for transportation to the liver for storage

Acts on enterocytes to increase iron absorption in the face of low plasma iron levels

Binds to plasma iron making it less available for bacteria

AI Overview Hepcidin is a crucial liver-produced peptide hormone that acts as the master regulator of systemic iron metabolism by controlling iron absorption, storage, and recycling. It functions by binding to and inducing the degradation of ferroportin, the cellular iron exporter found on intestinal enterocytes and macrophages, thereby lowering serum iron levels and trapping iron in cells