PL
Opisano rolą hepcydyny jako mediatora wrodzonej odporności przy infekcjach bakteryjnych, stanie zapalnym, niedokrwistości i niedotlenieniu oraz przy wrodzonej hemochromatozie.
EN
The main role of iron is its part in the haemoglobin composition where it stabilizes its level. However, iron also plays a very important role in immunological processes. Hepcidin was identified as a regulator that communicates the state of iron reserve in the organism with intestine cells responsible for the absorption. In the inflammatory states, when the organism wants to cause the alimony iron deficit, the hepcidin production increases even a hunred folds, thus leading to anaemia. Hepcidin is also a stimulator of inflammation as an antibacterial factor produced in the liver parenchyma. It decreases the absorption of iron in the intestines and increases the secretion of iron to the reticuloendothelial system. Experiments on animals deprived of hepcidyne and with its excess allow the understanding of the dependence of iron homeostasis and confirm the role of hepcidin as a hormone regulating the iron metabolism.