Evidence emerged from studies in mice that hepcidin, a small peptide hormone exclusively produced in the liver in response to inflammation, could completely or nearly completely shut down normal iron hemostasis.
Mind-boggling networks of cytokines and transcription factors have been invoked to explain the anemia of inflammation. Does it really have to be so complicated? Elevated hepcidin; defensive sequestering of serum ferritin (iron); direct cytokine disruption
Today we're going to discuss the anemia of inflammation -- starting with its mechanisms, then looking at a fairly new genetic link between inflammation and anemia, and including how we can apply all of this to our patients.
How does hepcidin promote anemia of inflammation? "When you have some sort of stimulation of hepatocytes, they make more hepcidin, which causes internalization and destruction of ferroportin, stopping any further absorption of iron," Dr. Rivera explained.