Hepcidin clearance is associated with erythropoietin requirement in stable hemodialysis patients
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BACKGROUND: The discovery of hepcidin, the hormone regulating iron absorption and transport, has improved the understanding of anemia and erythropoietin treatment. Excessive hepcidin signaling causes anemia in chronic inflammatory conditions by restricting iron delivery to the bone marrow. Hepcidin is normally eliminated in the urine, and the high levels seen in renal failure are thought to contribute to renal anemia and resistance to erythropoietin. METHODS: Clearance of hepcidin by hemodialysis was investigated in this study by measurement of plasma hepcidin before and after a single dialysis session in 204 patients. Results: Dialysis significantly reduced circulating hepcidin (p < 0.001) with median (IQR) clearance 47.7 (34.2 - 61.0)%. Dialytic hepcidin clearance was correlated with spKt/V (R = 0.202, p = 0.006), but not related to session length or membrane flux. There was also a strong correlation between hepcidin clearance and erythropoietin dose (R = -0.193, p = 0.007), sufficient to displace more traditional markers of erythropoietin resistance in a linear regression model, suggesting that increased dialytic removal of hepcidin could improve erythropoietin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodialysis reduces circulating hepcidin. Greater hepcidin clearance, which is related to spKt/V, is strongly associated with reduced erythropoietin requirement. This further implicates hepcidin in the pathogenesis of renal anemia and suggests that hepcidin could be a useful therapeutic target for dialysis patients.
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The Use of a Liposomal Formulation Incorporating an Antimicrobial Peptide from Tilapia as a New Adjuvant to Epirubicin in Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Pluripotent Testicular Embryonic Carcinoma Cells.

This study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of hepcidin, a potential antimicrobial peptide from Tilapia, and epirubicin (Epi), an antineoplastic agent, on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and link the ROS levels to the reversal mechanisms of multidrug resistance (MDR) by epirubicin and hepcidin in human squamous cell carcinoma SCC15 and human embryonal carcinoma NT2D1 cells. The cells, pretreated with hepcidin, epirubicin, or a combination of these compounds in PEGylated liposomes, were used to validate the molecular mechanisms involved in inhibiting efflux transporters and inducing apoptosis as evaluated by cytotoxicity, intracellular accumulation, mRNA levels, cell cycle distribution, and caspase activity of this combination. We found that hepcidin significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of epirubicin in liposomes. The co-incubation of epirubicin with hepcidin in liposomes intensified the ROS production, including hydrogen peroxide and superoxide free radicals. Hepcidin significantly increased epirubicin intracellular uptake into NT2D1 and SCC15 cells, as supported by the diminished mRNA expressions of MDR1, MDR-associated protein (MRP) 1, and MRP2. Hepcidin and/or epirubicin in liposomes triggered apoptosis, as verified by the reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased sub-G1 phase of cell cycle, incremental populations of apoptosis using annexin V/PI assay, and chromatin condensation. As far as we know, this is the first example showing that PEGylated liposomal TH1-5 and epirubicin gives rise to cell death in human squamous carcinoma and testicular embryonic carcinoma cells through the reduced epirubicin efflux via ROS-mediated suppression of P-gp and MRPs and concomitant initiation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Hence, hepcidin in PEGylated liposomes may function as an adjuvant to anticancer drugs, thus demonstrating a novel strategy for reversing MDR.

Effect of Dialysate Glucose Concentration on Hepcidin Clearance in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Hepcidin is a key regulator of iron homeostasis, takes part in pathophysiology of anemia and cardiovascular disease in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of glucose-free and glucose-containing dialysate on the clearance of hepcidin-25 during a hemodialysis (HD) session and discuss its potential mechanism in MHD patients. METHODS: In a longitudinal interventional study of 30 stable MHD patients without diabetes, we measured serum hepcidin-25 and plasma catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine) during HD session using glucose-free dialysate and then switched to 5.55 mmol/L glucose-containing dialysate. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify the effect of two dialysates on the intra-dialysis changes of hepcidin-25 and catecholamines. Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were performed to detect the relationships between hepcidin-25 and catecholamines. RESULTS: Glucose-free dialysate achieved a greater reduction of hepcidin-25 than 5.55 mmol/L glucose-containing dialysate in a single bicarbonate HD session [-8.43 (-15.44 to -1.42) vs. 0.46 (-6.09 to 7.00) %, P < .05]. The intra-dialysis changes of catecholamines showed no significant differences between the two dialysates. The serum hepcidin-25 levels were positively associated with plasma catecholamines levels at pre-, intra- and post-HD (R = 0.22~0.62 with P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that glucose-containing dialysate might up-regulate hepcidin-25 synthesis through activation of the sympathetic nervous system or oxidative stress, possibly mediated by increased production of catecholamines. Adequately designed studies are needed to confirm and reveal the mechanisms of dialysate glucose concentration on hepcidin-25 kinetics during HD sessions.

The application of control charts in regulated bioanalysis for monitoring long-term reproducibility.

In regulated bioanalysis, the acceptance of results is batch-wise. When during clinical development derived pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic results from different studies will be combined or compared, it is recommendable to monitor the long-term reproducibility of bioanalytical assays. Long-term reproducibility can be evaluated by control charts generated from control samples included in each batch. We present a methodology for the implementation, construction and evaluation of control charts next to the regular batch acceptance of bioanalytical results. Decision rules can be set up for a statistical evaluation of the results. Violation of a decision rule may lead to a root-cause investigation and corrective actions to improve assay robustness. Three examples of control charts, for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analytes are presented.

Hiperpigmentación cutánea y homeostasis del hierro: rol de la hepcidina / Cutaneous hyperpigmentation and homeostasis of iron: role of the hepcidin

La hiperpigmentación cutánea por melanina en zonas expuestas al sol puede estar asociada a un desequilibrio en la homeostasis del hierro. La hepcidina es un péptido responsable de la regulación negativa de la absorción del hierro en el intestino delgado y de su liberación por los macrófagos. Posee capacidad antimicrobiana. Es sintetizada en el hígado, secretada al torrente circulatorio y excretada por la orina. La sobreexpresión causa anemia y su déficit, sobrecarga de hierro (acumulación en diferentes órganos y hemocromatosis hereditaria). Los antagonistas de la hepcidina podrían utilizarse en el tratamiento de la anemia resistente a eritropoyetina, asociada a procesos crónicos. Por su parte, los agonistas o sustancias que estimulen la producción de hepcidina, podrían constituir un tratamiento en enfermedades con sobrecarga de hierro (siderosis) y por consiguiente, corregir la hiperpigmentación asociada.

The cutaneous hyperpigmentation by melanin in zones of the skin exposed to the sun can be associated to an imbalance in the homeostasis of the iron. The hepcidin is a peptide responsible for the negative regulation of the absorption of the iron in the small intestine and of its liberation by the macrophages. It has, in addition, antimicrobial capacity. It is synthesized in the liver, secreted to the circulatory torrent and excreted by the urine. Its overexpression causes anemia and its deficit iron overload (accumulation in different organs and hereditary hemochromatosis), The antagonists of the hepcidin, could be used in the treatment of anemia resistant to erythropoyetin associated to chronic processes. On the other hand, the agonists or substances that stimulate the hepcidin production, could constitute a treatment in diseases with overload of iron (siderosis) and therefore, to correct the associate.hyperpigmentation.