Iron homeostasis is regulated by the interaction between the hormone hepcidin and the iron exporter ferroportin. Hepcidin is a cysteine-rich peptide which is secreted by hepatocytes in response to inflammation, eryhropoietic demand and iron stores. Hepcidin binds to its receptor ferroportin, inducing its internalisation and degradation, thus regulating the export of iron from cells to plasma. One ...