Immunoassay for human serum hepcidin

• Published in: Blood Vol. 112; no. 10; pp. 4292 - 4297
• Main Authors: Ganz, Tomas, Olbina, Gordana, Girelli, Domenico, Nemeth, Elizabeta, Westerman, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.11.2008
• Subjects: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - blood; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - urine; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - blood; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - urine; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Chronic Disease; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Ferritins - blood; Ferritins - urine; Hemochromatosis - blood; Hemochromatosis - urine; Hepcidins; Humans; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - urine; Iron; Kidney Diseases - blood; Kidney Diseases - urine; Male; Multiple Myeloma - blood; Multiple Myeloma - urine; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-02-139915

We developed and validated the first serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for hepcidin, the principal iron-regulatory hormone that has been very difficult to measure. In healthy volunteers, the 5% to 95% range of hepcidin concentrations was 29 to 254 ng/mL in men (n = 65) and 17 to 286 ng/mL in women (n = 49), with median concentrations 112 versus 65 (P < .001). The lower limit of detection was 5 ng/mL. Serum hepcidin concentrations in 24 healthy subjects correlated well with their urinary hepcidin (r = 0.82). Serum hepcidin appropriately correlated with serum ferritin (r = 0.63), reflecting the regulation of both proteins by iron stores. Healthy volunteers showed a diurnal increase of serum hepcidin at noon and 8 pm compared with 8 am, and a transient rise of serum hepcidin in response to iron ingestion. Expected alterations in hepcidin levels were observed in a variety of clinical conditions associated with iron disturbances. Serum hepcidin concentrations were undetectable or low in patients with iron deficiency anemia (ferritin < 10 ng/mL), iron-depleted HFE hemochromatosis, and juvenile hemochromatosis. Serum hepcidin concentrations were high in patients with inflammation (C-reactive protein > 10 mg/dL), multiple myeloma, or chronic kidney disease. The new serum hepcidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay yields accurate and reproducible measurements that appropriately reflect physiologic, pathologic, and genetic influences, and is informative about the etiology of iron disorders.