Enhanced insulin signaling and its downstream effects in iron-overloaded primary hepatocytes from hepcidin knock-out mice.

Increased body iron stores have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. The liver plays a central role in homeostasis of iron and glucose in the body. Mice deficient in hepcidin (the central regulator of systemic iron homeostasis) (Hamp1-/- mice) accumulate iron in the liver in vivo. The effects of such iron loading on hepatic insulin signaling and glucose metabolism are not known.

Pubmed ID: 31812496