Figure 2.

Hepcidin-ferroportin interaction controls the entry of iron into bone tissues. The rate of iron entry into the bone tissues depends primarily on the serum levels of hepcidin. When serum hepcidin levels are reduced, the ferroportin activity is not blocked effectively. Thus, the release of iron from enterocytes and macrophages increases, resulting in elevated serum iron levels and increased iron deposition in bone tissues.