This case-control study aimed to study the levels of hepcidin and other proinflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP) and their relation with anemia in iron- and erythropoietin-naïve, non-dialysis CKD (stage 3 - 5) patients.
Elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibit erythropoiesis and cause anemia in patients with cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Therefore, our data suggest that TNF-<i>α</i> stimulates the expression of hepcidin in IBD patients, resulting in aggravated anemia and that blockage of TNF-<i>α</i> or the caspase-3/8 and NF-<i>κ</i>B pathways could downregulate hepcidin expression.