Severe iron deficiency blunts the response of the iron regulatory gene Hamp and pro-inflammatory cytokines to lipopolysaccharide

Abstract

In any one physiological situation, net hepcidin levels are determined by the relative strengths of competing stimuli. The ability of severe iron deficiency to blunt the response to lipopolysaccharide of both hepcidin and other markers of inflammation suggests that adequate iron levels are necessary for a full acute phase response.