[The role of iron and hepcidin in hepatic fibrosis].

Liver iron overload can be found in a number of different chronic liver diseases. Iron is proposed to play a role in promoting hepatic fibrosis by various mechanisms, including iron-catalyzed production of free radical and lipid peroxidation, alteration of essential biomolecules, triggering cell apoptosis and necrosis, and activation and transformation of the hepatic stellate cell into a myofibroblastic cell. Recent evidences demonstrate that the decrease of hepcidin, a 25-amino acid peptide produced by the hepatocytes, may play a significant role in promoting hepatic iron overload in various chronic liver diseases. Therefore, the supplemental hepcidin therapy may reduce liver iron concentration. Hepcidin or hepcidin-related therapeutics could find a place in the treatment of various iron overload diseases and hepatic fibrosis.