Pharmacological research : the official journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society
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Iron is an essential biogenic element for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In humans iron is present in hundreds of different metalloproteins. ⋯ Therapeutic modulation of hepcidin is a new and promising approach to treatment of these conditions. In this review, a summary of the current knowledge of hepcidin function, regulation and pathological involvements are provided, followed by a section covering the therapeutic potential of hepcidin and the current strategies how to modulate its levels and biological functions for therapeutic purposes.