Hepcidin and Ferroportin in Different Murine Models of Obesity Challenged with Polymicrobial Sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in non‐coronary intensive care units. Obesity has been on the rise over the past decades. Hepcidin diminishes ferroportin expression and decreases ferritin levels. In both obesity and sepsis hepcidin is increased causing lower serum iron levels. The changes of hepcidin expression in murine obesity and sepsis are unknown. The objective of this study was to compare hepcidin, ferroportin and ferritin levels in murine models of obesity (ob/ob and db/db) challenged with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to values in corresponding shams. RT‐PCR and ELISAs were used to quantify the expression of hepcidin and ferroportin in hepatic and subcutaneous fat tissue, and serum levels of hepcidin and ferritin in WT, ob/ob and db/db mice 6 hours following CLP. CLP led to increased hepatic expression of hepcidin in WT and ob/ob, but not db/db, mice. Hepcidin expression in subcutaneous fat was elevated solely in db/db sham mice. Ferroportin expression was unchanged in septic obese mice. Serum levels of hepcidin were significantly decreased in ob/ob and db/db CLP mice and their corresponding shams compared with WT sham and CLP mice. Ferritin levels were unchanged in all groups. The elevated tissue expression of hepcidin following CLP does not appear to exert a systemic impact, as indicated by the unchanged serum levels of hepcidin and ferritin (supported by the FWF Austrian Science Fund, P22567, Government of Styria).