Important advances in our understanding of iron metabolism have been made during the
past 10 years, highlighting the mechanisms by which dysregulated iron homeostasis leads
to hematologic, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the discovery of
hepcidin and its fundamental role as the hormonal peptide regulating iron metabolism has
delineated the organization of the complex network of proteins that regulates iron
metabolism within the body. Maintenance of iron homeostasis is the consequence of tight …