Hepcidin is down-regulated in alcoholic liver injury: implications for the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.

Background: Alcoholic liver disease is known to be associated with abnormal iron homeostasis, and iron metabolism itself is regulated by the liver-derived peptide hepcidin. Both CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) have been shown to regulate hepcidin gene transcription.

Aim: To investigate mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced disturbances in iron homeostasis by measuring the expression of hepcidin and C/EBPalpha mRNA using in vivo and in vitro models of alcoholic liver injury.