Hepcidin,secreted by the liver,is a new type of a cysteine-rich peptide,with the characteristics of resisting bacteria and fungi.The recent study has confirmed that hepcidin,as the iron-regulatory hormone,plays a key role in regulating iron metabolism to keep the body iron homeostasis.After synthesized in the liver cells,hepcidin is secreted into circulation,transmitting the iron-regulatory signals to the duodenal cells,macrophages,brain cells,myocardial cells and so on.In turn,the expression of iron transport-related protein is changed and finally the absorption,storage and release of iron is regulated by hepcidin.