A conditional mouse model to study murine hemochromatosis

Aims: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a common iron overload disorder that is most frequently caused by mutations in the HFE gene. Work from our lab and others demonstrates that HFE is required for appropriate hepatic expression of the iron hormone and anti-microbial peptide hepcidin: expression of this negative regulator of duodenal iron absorption is decreased and cannot be adjusted in response to elevated hepatic iron levels in Hfe-deficient mice and HH patients. These findings further our understanding of the molecular mechanism of HFE function and suggest that the primary locus of HFE function is the liv…