Hepcidin is synthesized and secreted by liver cells and has been reported as one of the
hormone molecules that regulates
iron homeostasis. To determine whether serum level of
hepcidin can be used as a
biomarker for the evaluation of chronic inflammatory status,
iron level and renal function in patients following allograft
renal transplantation, serum levels of
hepcidin,
interleukin (IL)-6,
ferritin, serum
iron, and renal functions were measured. Sixty patients were included in the current study and were further separated into groups with or without
hyperlipidemia. We found that allogeneic kidney transplant recipients with
hyperlipidemia have significantly increased serum levels of
hepcidin,
IL-6, and
ferritin. The increased serum
hepcidin is positively correlated with serum
IL-6 and
ferritin as analyzed by single-factor correlation analysis. Multivariant correlation analysis in all specimens further demonstrated that serum
hepcidin negatively correlated with glomerular filtration rate, and positively correlated with serum total
cholesterol,
triglycerides, serum
ferritin, and
IL-6. Our study demonstrated that serum level of
hepcidin after allogeneic
kidney transplantation not only reflects the status of chronic
inflammation but can also indicate changes in renal function. Thus,
hepcidin has the potential to be used as a promising marker for the detection and monitoring of the status of chronic
inflammation,
hyperlipidemia, and renal function in patients following allograft
renal transplantation.