What is the Origin of HAMP Gene?

The term is derived from the protein it encodes, Hepcidin, combined with its original classification as an AntiMicrobial Peptide. The gene was identified and characterized in the early 2000s, marking a significant advancement in the understanding of iron metabolism and its endocrine control.

What is the Mechanism of HAMP Gene?

The HAMP gene is highly sensitive to the body's iron status, inflammation, and erythropoietic demand. When iron stores are abundant, the liver increases HAMP gene transcription, resulting in elevated hepcidin secretion. Hepcidin then binds to and induces the degradation of the iron export channel ferroportin, effectively trapping iron within intestinal cells and macrophages and reducing the amount of circulating iron available for systemic use.

HAMP Gene ∞ Area

HAMP Gene

Meaning

The HAMP Gene, an acronym for the Hepcidin Antimicrobial Peptide gene, is the critical genetic sequence that codes for the synthesis of hepcidin, the master hormonal regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. Expression of this gene, which occurs primarily in the liver, is the central determinant of the body’s ability to absorb dietary iron and mobilize iron from storage sites. Dysregulation of the HAMP gene is the primary cause of genetic iron disorders, including hereditary hemochromatosis.