Biomaterial Database

Pathophysiologic mechanisms of anemia of chronic disease. 2004

Nancy C Andrews

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. nandrews@enders.tch.harvard.edu

Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is a prevalent condition commonly observed in patients with chronic infections, cancer, trauma, and inflammatory disorders. In this article, Dr Andrews examines new research findings that enhance the understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of ACD. After a brief review of iron homeostasis and a look at ACD in a historical context, she explores the significance of hepcidin, a recently discovered hormone involved in iron metabolism, and discusses a new hypothesis that connects hepcidin to the pathogenesis of ACD. Dr Andrews also examines the link between ACD and hereditary hemochromatosis, 2 disorders that on the surface may seem quite different but have in common the involvement of hepcidin in their pathogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007501	Iron	A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN.	Iron-56,Iron 56
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D006432	Hemochromatosis	A disorder of iron metabolism characterized by a triad of HEMOSIDEROSIS; LIVER CIRRHOSIS; and DIABETES MELLITUS. It is caused by massive iron deposits in parenchymal cells that may develop after a prolonged increase of iron absorption. (Jablonski's Dictionary of Syndromes & Eponymic Diseases, 2d ed)	Diabetes, Bronze,Bronze Diabetes,Bronzed Cirrhosis,Familial Hemochromatosis,Genetic Hemochromatosis,Haemochromatosis,Hemochromatoses,Iron Storage Disorder,Pigmentary Cirrhosis,Primary Hemochromatosis,Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard Syndrome,Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum Disease,Bronzed Cirrhoses,Cirrhoses, Bronzed,Cirrhoses, Pigmentary,Cirrhosis, Bronzed,Cirrhosis, Pigmentary,Disease, Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum,Diseases, Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum,Disorder, Iron Storage,Disorders, Iron Storage,Familial Hemochromatoses,Genetic Hemochromatoses,Haemochromatoses,Hemochromatose,Hemochromatoses, Familial,Hemochromatoses, Genetic,Hemochromatosis, Familial,Hemochromatosis, Genetic,Iron Storage Disorders,Pigmentary Cirrhoses,Recklenhausen-Applebaum Disease, Von,Recklenhausen-Applebaum Diseases, Von,Storage Disorder, Iron,Storage Disorders, Iron,Syndrome, Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard,Syndromes, Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard,Troisier Hanot Chauffard Syndrome,Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard Syndromes,Von Recklenhausen Applebaum Disease,Von Recklenhausen-Applebaum Diseases
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000740	Anemia	A reduction in the number of circulating ERYTHROCYTES or in the quantity of HEMOGLOBIN.	Anemias
D023181	Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides	Small cationic peptides that are an important component, in most species, of early innate and induced defenses against invading microbes. In animals they are found on mucosal surfaces, within phagocytic granules, and on the surface of the body. They are also found in insects and plants. Among others, this group includes the DEFENSINS, protegrins, tachyplesins, and thionins. They displace DIVALENT CATIONS from phosphate groups of MEMBRANE LIPIDS leading to disruption of the membrane.	Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide,Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides,Cationic Host Defense Peptides,Host Defense Peptide,Microbicidal Cationic Proteins,Amphipathic Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides,Host Defense Peptides,Antimicrobial Peptide, Cationic,Antimicrobial Peptides, Cationic,Cationic Peptides, Antimicrobial,Cationic Proteins, Microbicidal,Defense Peptide, Host,Defense Peptides, Host,Peptide, Cationic Antimicrobial,Peptide, Host Defense,Peptides, Antimicrobial Cationic,Peptides, Cationic Antimicrobial,Peptides, Host Defense,Proteins, Microbicidal Cationic
D064451	Hepcidins	Forms of hepcidin, a cationic amphipathic peptide synthesized in the liver as a prepropeptide which is first processed into prohepcidin and then into the biologically active hepcidin forms, including in human the 20-, 22-, and 25-amino acid residue peptide forms. Hepcidin acts as a homeostatic regulators of iron metabolism and also possesses antimicrobial activity.	Hepcidin,Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide,Pro-Hepcidin,Prohepcidin,Antimicrobial Peptide, Liver-Expressed,Liver Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide,Peptide, Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial,Pro Hepcidin