Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide transgenic mice exhibit features of the anemia of inflammation

• Published in: Blood Vol. 109; no. 9; pp. 4038 - 4044
• Main Authors: Roy, Cindy N., Mak, Howard H., Akpan, Imo, Losyev, Grigoriy, Zurakowski, David, Andrews, Nancy C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Elsevier Inc 01.05.2007; The Americain Society of Hematology; American Society of Hematology
• Series: Red Cells
• Subjects: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - genetics; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - metabolism; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - pathology; Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - biosynthesis; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Survival - genetics; Disease Models, Animal; Diseases of red blood cells; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Erythrocytes - pathology; Erythropoiesis - drug effects; Erythropoiesis - genetics; Erythropoietin - pharmacology; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hepcidins; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - pathology; Iron - metabolism; Macrophages - metabolism; Macrophages - pathology; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Red Cells; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Hematology; Peptides; Mouse; Anemia; Rodentia; Transgenic animal; Hemopathy; Inflammation; Hepcidin; Antimicrobial agent
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2006-10-051755

The anemia of inflammation is an acquired disorder affecting patients with a variety of medical conditions, and it is characterized by changes in iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis. Mounting evidence suggests that hepcidin antimicrobial peptide plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of the anemia of inflammation. To evaluate which features of this anemia can be attributed to hepcidin, we have generated mice carrying a tetracycline-regulated hepcidin transgene. Expression of the hepcidin transgene resulted in down-regulation of endogenous hepcidin mRNA. The transgenic mice developed a mild-to-moderate anemia associated with iron deficiency and iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Similar to the anemia of inflammation, iron accumulated in tissue macrophages, whereas a relative paucity of iron was found in the liver. Circulating erythrocytes in transgenic animals had normal survival rates, but transgenic animals had an impaired response to erythropoietin. Thus, hepcidin transgenic mice recapitulate each of the key features of anemia of inflammation in human patients and serve as a useful model of this prevalent disorder.