Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited disorder of heme synthesis caused by
deficiency of the mitochondrial enzyme ferrochelatase. EPP in humans is associated with
liver disease, hypertriglyceridemia, and a low level of high density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol. To explore consequences of ferrochelatase deficiency in lipid metabolism, we
have analyzed hepatic lipid content and plasma lipoprotein levels in chow-fed BALB/c mice
homozygous (fch/fch) or heterozygous (fch/+) for a point mutation in the ferrochelatase gene …