Journal of immunotoxicology
-
The antimicrobial β-defensin-like role of hepcidin (HEPC) has been increasingly investigated for its potential role in acute kidney injury (AKI). In sepsis-induced AKI, there is a complex interplay between positive and negative regulation of HEPC, with consequently altered distributions of iron caused by changes in HEPC levels. The aim of the current research was to assess serum HEPC levels in a cohort of septic patients with AKI and investigate the regulatory impact of hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF)-1α, erythropoietin (EPO) and inflammation on HEPC levels and related signal cascades in these patients. ⋯ In line with significant reductions in serum TNFα and TGFβ1 (25.5% and 26.2%, respectively), HEPC and HIF-1α levels were significantly decreased (31.6% and 19.3%), and EPO levels increased (1.9-fold) compared to pretreatment values. There was a significant positive correlation between HEPC levels and kidney function markers (SCr and BUN), inflammatory TNFα and TGFβ1 and serum HIF-1α and pAKT in septic AKI patients before and after treatment. Based on the results here, we conclude that HEPC, EPO and HIF-1α are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced AKI and confirm the dominating effects of inflammatory determinants over hypoxia-related complications.