Hepcidin mRNA is induced by IL-6.

Northern blots of human hepatocyte RNA were probed for hepcidin, ferritin H, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G3PD) mRNAs. (A) Hepatocytes were treated for 24 hours in the presence or absence of 10% FCS, with serum-free medium (0), ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), iron-saturated ferritin (Fe-Tf), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 12.5% monocyte medium + LPS (M+LPS), and 12.5% monocyte medium conditioned by monocytes exposed to LPS (Mo-LPS). (B) Hepatocytes were treated for the indicated time with cytokines or Mo-LPS (12.5% monocyte medium conditioned by monocytes exposed to LPS), without or with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra).