Effects of RGMc on BMP2 and BMP6-mediated Gene Expression in Hep3B Liver Cells

Mutations in repulsive guidance molecule c (RGMc) / hemojuvelin (HJV) cause juvenile hemochromatosis, an aggravated iron overload disorder that presents early in life. Patients with juvenile hemochromatosis, and RGMc knockout mice, have diminished expression of the key iron-regulatory peptide, hepcidin. This suggests that RGMc plays a critical role in the regulation of iron homeostasis; however the mechanisms of RGMc actions are unknown. Recent studies have shown that RGMc directly binds to the growth factors, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 6 (BMP2 and BMP6), and it is possible that this interaction regulates aspects of iron metabolism.

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Nili M, Shinde U, Rotwein P