The amount of iron in the body and the concentration of iron in blood plasma are closely regulated by an endocrine system centered on the binding of the hormone hepcidin to its receptor and cellular iron exporter ferroportin. The discovery of hepcidin, the mechanisms of its action and its regulation have transformed our understanding of the pathogenesis of iron-related diseases from anemias to hemochromatosis and have led to the development of novel therapeutics for iron disorders.
