Suppression of hepcidin during anemia requires erythropoietic activity.

Hepcidin, the principal iron regulatory hormone, regulates the absorption of iron from the diet and the mobilization of iron from stores. Previous studies indicated that hepcidin is suppressed during anemia, a response that would appropriately increase the absorption of iron and its release from stores. Indeed, in the mouse model, hepcidin-1 was suppressed after phlebotomy or erythropoietin administration but the suppression was reversed by inhibitors of erythropoiesis.