Upregulation of hepcidin by interleukin-1β in human hepatoma cell lines

Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is commonly observed in chronic inflammation, although its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Hepcidin is thought to be a key regulator in iron metabolism and has been implicated in ACD. Although the induction of hepcidin by an inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) seems to have been confirmed, it is still controversial whether interleukin-1β (IL-1β), also known as an inflammatory cytokine, regulates hepcidin expression. We demonstrated that hepcidin mRNA was upregulated by IL-1β in human hepatoma-derived HuH-7 cells, particularly at low concentrations of IL-1β, while high concentrations of IL-6 were needed for the upregulation of hepcidin mRNA. Therefore, IL-1β might be more important for the upregulation of hepcidin in physiological conditions than IL-6. Although IL-1β induces IL-6 production in hepatocytes, our data indicate that the effect of IL-1β on hepcidin expression is independent from that of IL-6. In conclusion, IL-1β might have an important role in ACD.