Recombinant Mouse Hepcidin (Hamp), N-His

Mouse Hepcidin (Hamp) is a peptide hormone primarily produced by the liver and plays a central role in regulating systemic iron homeostasis. It acts by binding to and degrading ferroportin, the iron exporter protein, thereby inhibiting iron release from cells such as enterocytes, macrophages, and hepatocytes. In mouse models, hepcidin expression is regulated by various pathways, including the BMP-SMAD pathway, which is crucial for maintaining iron balance. Hepcidin transcription is also influenced by inflammatory signals, such as IL-6, which activate the STAT3 pathway. In the retina, hepcidin is expressed in Müller cells, photoreceptor cells, and retinal pigment epithelium, and its expression can be upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via the TLR-4 pathway, independent of Hfe.