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Hepcidin controls the levels and distribution of iron, an element whose availability can influence the outcome of infections. We investigated hepcidin regulation by infection-associated cytokines, pathogen-derived molecules, and whole pathogens in vitro and in vivo. We found that IL-22, an effector cytokine implicated in responses to extracellular infections, caused IL-6-independent hepcidin up-regulation in human hepatoma cells, suggesting it might represent an additional inflammatory hepcidin agonist. Like IL-6, IL-22 caused phosphorylation of STAT3 and synergized with BMP6 potentiating hepcidin induction. In human leukocytes, IL-6 caused potent, transient hepcidin up-regulation that was augmented by TGF-β1. Pathogen-derived TLR agonists also stimulated hepcidin, most notably the TLR5 agonist flagellin in an IL-6-dependent manner. In contrast, leukocyte hepcidin induction by heat-killed Candida albicans hyphae was IL-6-independent, but partially TGF-β-dependent. In a murine acute systemic candidiasis model, C albicans strongly stimulated hepcidin, accompanied by a major reduction in transferrin saturation. Similarly, hepcidin was up-regulated with concomitant lowering of serum iron during acute murine Influenza A/PR/8/34 virus (H1N1) infection. This intracellular pathogen also stimulated hepcidin expression in leukocytes and hepatoma cells. Together, these results indicate that hepcidin induction represents a component of the innate immune response to acute infection, with the potential to affect disease pathogenesis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1182/blood-2011-04-351957

Type

Journal article

Journal

Blood

Publication Date

13/10/2011

Volume

118

Pages

4129 - 4139

Keywords

Animals, Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides, Candida albicans, Candidiasis, Flagellin, Hep G2 Cells, Hepcidins, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Interleukin-6, Interleukins, Mice, Orthomyxoviridae Infections, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Toll-Like Receptor 5, Transforming Growth Factor beta1