Generation of an Intestinal-Specific Hephaestin Knockout Mouse

The study focused on generating an intestinal-specific hephaestin (Heph) knockout mouse to better understand Heph's role in intestinal iron absorption. Heph is a multicopper ferroxidase crucial for exporting dietary iron from intestinal cells to the bloodstream. The knockout mice exhibited smaller size and anemia compared to their wild-type counterparts, and those born to knockout mothers showed truncal hair loss that improved after weaning. Despite these deficiencies, the mice's survival suggested the presence of alternative mechanisms for iron acquisition. This model provided a valuable tool for studying Heph and other proteins involved in intestinal iron transport.