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Transgenic HFE‐dependent induction of hepcidin in mice does not require transferrin receptor‐2
Author(s) -
Schmidt Paul J.,
Fleming Mark D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.23173
Subject(s) - hepcidin , transferrin receptor , transferrin , microcytic anemia , hereditary hemochromatosis , transgene , receptor , downregulation and upregulation , in vivo , immunoprecipitation , endocrinology , medicine , hemochromatosis , cancer research , anemia , chemistry , biology , immunology , gene , antibody , biochemistry , genetics
Hereditary hemochomatosis (HH) is caused by mutations in several genes, including HFE and transferrin receptor‐2 ( TFR2 ). Loss of either protein decreases expression of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin by the liver, leading to inappropriately high iron uptake from the diet, and resulting in systemic iron overload. In tissue culture, overexpressed HFE and TFR2 physically interact. Hepatocellular overexpression of Hfe in vivo increases hepcidin expression, despite an associated decrease in Tfr2. On this basis, we hypothesized that Tfr2 would not be required for Hfe‐dependent up‐regulation of hepcidin. We show that hepatocellular overexpression of Hfe in Tfr2 Y245X/Y245X mice leads to hepcidin induction eventuating in iron deficiency and a hypochromic, microcytic anemia. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation studies using liver lysates did not provide evidence for physical interaction between Hfe and Tfr2 in vivo. In conclusion, we demonstrate that Tfr2 is not essential for Hfe‐mediated induction of hepcidin expression, supporting the possibility that TFR2 may regulate iron metabolism in an HFE‐independent manner. Am. J. Hematol. 87:588–595, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.