Increased expression of Hfe in wild-type 129/S and FVB mice increases hepcidin expression and lowers iron levels. (A-B) AAV-Hfe (■) or AAV-c (▩) was injected into wild-type 129/S mice or wild-type FVB mice according to the protocol listed in Figure 1. Mice injected with AAV-Hfe (■) exhibit significantly reduced nonheme iron in liver compared with AAV-c (▩) injected 129/S and FVB mice. No detectable changes in Tf saturation, total serum iron (TSI), or transferrin iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were detected. In each strain of mice, expression of HFE was detectable by immunoblot analysis, and increased Hfe mRNA could be detected in the AAV-Hfe– but not the AAV-c–injected animals. Three to 4 mice were used in each group. The results are shown for 1 group of mice. The experiment was repeated twice with similar results.