In the heart, the way hepcidin responds to iron levels is different from how it works in the liver - when the body is low on iron, the heart makes more hepcidin protein even though the gene for it is less active.
Scientific Claim
Cardiac hepcidin expression is regulated differently from hepatic hepcidin in response to iron levels, with cardiac hepcidin protein increasing during iron deficiency while transcript levels decrease.
Original Statement
“In both tissues, Hamp mRNA levels were decreased by the iron-deficient diet and increased by the iron-loaded diet (Figure 1A). At the protein level, while changes in hepatic HAMP protein mirrored changes in its mRNA levels, cardiac HAMP protein was increased by the iron-deficient diet and unaffected by the iron-loaded diet (Figure 1B).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study shows an association between iron levels and hepcidin regulation in heart vs liver, but cannot establish causation due to study design limitations. 'Is regulated differently' is appropriate as it describes an observed association.
More Accurate Statement
“Cardiac hepcidin expression is associated with different regulation from hepatic hepcidin in response to iron levels, with cardiac hepcidin protein increasing during iron deficiency while transcript levels decrease.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
An essential cell-autonomous role for hepcidin in cardiac iron homeostasis