Fig 1. Scheme of the model including iron pools, iron fluxes and regulation of systemic iron levels by the hepcidin/ferroportin regulatory system.

The iron content of seven compartments is described within the model. Besides serum, liver, spleen, bone marrow, red blood cells, and duodenum, the compartment ‘other organs’ accounts for the iron content of the remaining murine body. Iron absorption and loss in the duodenum and iron loss via skin and fur are considered. Iron export from the peripheral compartments into serum is regulated by ferroportin. The model accounts for inhibition of Fpn transcription by inflammation, regulation of Fpn translation by intracellular iron, as well as hepcidin-mediated post-translational destabilization of ferroportin protein. Transcriptional regulation of hepcidin by the BMP6/SMAD and IL6/STAT pathways are included in the model. Furthermore, the model considers regulation of BMP6 by liver and plasma iron.