Hepcidin expression in the liver of rats fed a magnesium-deficient diet

Br J Nutr. 2011 Oct;106(8):1169-72. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511001553. Epub 2011 May 18.

Abstract

Mg deficiency accelerates Fe accumulation in the liver, which may induce various metabolic disturbances. In the present study, we examined the gene expression of Hepcidin, a peptide hormone produced in the liver to regulate intestinal Fe absorption negatively, in Mg-deficient rats. Although liver Fe concentration was significantly higher in rats fed an Mg-deficient diet for 4 weeks than in rats fed a control diet, Hepcidin expression in the liver was comparable between the dietary groups. Previous studies revealed that Fe overload up-regulated Hepcidin expression through transcriptional activation by Fe-induced bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) 6, a growth/differentiation factor belonging to the transforming growth factor-β family, in the liver. Mg deficiency up-regulated the expression of Bmp6 but did not affect the expression of inhibition of DNA binding 1, a sensitive Bmp-responsive gene. In addition, the expression of Bmp receptors such as activin receptor-like kinase 2 (Alk2), activin receptor type IIA (Actr2a), activin receptor type IIB (Actr2b) and Bmp type II receptor (Bmpr2) was lower in the liver of Mg-deficient rats than in that of control rats. The present study indicates that accumulation of hepatic Fe by Mg deficiency is a stimulant inducing Bmp6 expression but not Hepcidin expression by blunting Bmp signalling possibly resulting from down-regulation of the receptor expression. Unresponsive Hepcidin expression may have a role in Mg deficiency-induced changes related to increased liver Fe.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors / genetics
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Hemochromatosis Protein
  • Hepcidins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 / genetics
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Magnesium / blood
  • Magnesium Deficiency / genetics*
  • Magnesium Deficiency / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Transferrin / genetics
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Bmp6 protein, rat
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6
  • DNA Primers
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • HFE protein, rat
  • Hamp protein, rat
  • Hemochromatosis Protein
  • Hepcidins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Hjv protein, rat
  • ID1 protein, rat
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Transferrin
  • Tfr2 protein, rat
  • Tfrc protein, rat
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Iron
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors
  • Magnesium