Anti-TNF-Mediated Modulation of Prohepcidin Improves Iron Availability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, in an IL-6-Mediated Fashion

Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017:2017:6843976. doi: 10.1155/2017/6843976. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Abstract

Background. Anaemia is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), frequently resulting from a combination of iron deficiency and of anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). ACD is characterized by macrophage iron retention induced by proinflammatory cytokines. Hepcidin is the master inducer of iron accumulation during ACD, and its production is mainly regulated by IL-6 and the novel erythroid hormone erythroferrone (ERFE). This study evaluates whether anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies therapy modurates hepcidin production and the levels of its main regulators, leading to a restoration of iron homeostasis. Methods. Sera were collected from 21 IBD patients, before each anti-TNF administration, for the first 6 weeks of therapy. Prohepcidin, erythropoietin, erythroferrone, C reactive protein, interleukin-6, iron markers, and haemoglobin levels were measured and clinical activity indexes were evaluated. Results. Serum prohepcidin, IL-6, CRP, and ferritin were significantly reduced after 6-week treatment; an increase in serum iron and total transferrin was observed. No changes in the EPO-ERFE axis were found. Remarkably, haemoglobin was significantly increased. Conclusions. Anti-TNF therapy improves iron metabolism and, subsequently, anaemia in IBD. This effect appears to be related to the modulation of the cytokine network and specifically IL-6 leading to a relevant decrease of hepcidin, a master regulator of ACD.

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab / therapeutic use*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia / blood*
  • Anemia / complications
  • Anemia / immunology
  • C-Reactive Protein / immunology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / blood
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / complications
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / immunology
  • Crohn Disease / blood
  • Crohn Disease / complications
  • Crohn Disease / drug therapy*
  • Crohn Disease / immunology
  • Erythropoietin / blood*
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Hemoglobins
  • Hepcidins / blood*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / blood
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / complications
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology
  • Infliximab / therapeutic use*
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology*
  • Iron / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Hormones / blood*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • EPO protein, human
  • Erfe protein, human
  • Hemoglobins
  • Hepcidins
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Peptide Hormones
  • TNF protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Erythropoietin
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Ferritins
  • Infliximab
  • Iron
  • Adalimumab