A new study in the December Cell Metabolism reveals an unexpected connection between a tumor suppressor gene in the liver and the normally careful control over the amount of iron absorbed from the diet. The surprising finding demonstrates a critical role for the liver in iron metabolism. The discovery also suggests a new avenue for the treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis, an iron-overload disease that is one of the most common genetic disorders among Caucasians, according to researchers. Chu-Xia Deng, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and his colleagues report that mice lacking the SMAD4 gene in the liver only suffer from a toxic buildup of iron, particularly in their liver, kidneys, and pancreas--symptoms similar to those exhibited by humans with hemochromatosis. In other respects, the animals appeared remarkably normal, the researchers found.
