Spongious therapy of iron overload with hipcidin overexpressed macrophages

Abstract

Iron overload is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in some diseases such as beta thalassemia. Conventional therapies with phlebotomy and iron chelating agents have shown no profound effect on iron excessive disease. Moreover, hepcidin as an iron transport inhibitor can absorb more iron than normal level following overexpression in macrophages. For this purpose, We hypothised that repeat transplantation of manipulated macrophages and their replacement, can remove the excess iron and decrease iron toxicity, a process that is called, spongious therapy.