Hephaestin (HEPH) is a membrane-bound ceruloplasmin homologue that plays a critical role in intestinal iron absorption [, , ]. It may function as a ferroxidase for ferrous (II) to ferric ion (III) conversion and may be involved in copper transport and homeostasis [, ]. Hephaestin interacts with another protein involved in intestinal iron absorption, ferroportin 1 [, , ]. In mouse, defects in HEPH can lead to severe microcytic hypochronic anemia []. .
