Hepatic Iron Regulatory Gene Expression Influenced Due to Disturbed Essential Trace Elements Level

Iron and copper, the essential trace elements accomplish their numerous relevant metabolic functions appropriately in the body. Hepcidin, ferroportin-1 and transferrin are associated with iron metabolism and their expression can be affected under different physiological or pathological conditions. The aim of the current study was to investigate the changes in hepatic gene expression of these iron regulatory proteins in response to acute Fe & Cu intoxication. Male Wistar Rats were categorized in three experimental groups (G-I: FeSO4, 60mg/kg; G-II: CuSO4, 10mg/kg; G-III: FeSO4, 30mg/kg & CuSO4, 5mg/kg), against a control group. Animals were sacrificed after 24h of acute intra-peritoneal administration. Liver was excised, cut into small pieces and processed for genetic expression analysis. Hepatic hepcidin gene expression was up-regulated in G-I & G-III, whereas it was down-regulated in the G-II, when compared with the control group and with its more expression in G-I. Hepatic ferroportin-1 gene expression was down-regulated and had shown an inverse relation to the hepcidin gene expression. Hepatic transferrin gene expression was down-regulated in G-II, in comparison with the control group, whereas in G-I & G-III, no detectable level was observed. Taken together these findings it can be concluded that gene expression can significantly be affected due to disturbed levels of the essential trace elements.