Generation of an Intestinal-Specific Hephaestin Knockout Mouse

The study generated an intestinal-specific hephaestin knockout mouse using the cre-lox system to investigate the role of hephaestin in intestinal iron absorption. The knockout mice were smaller and anemic compared to wild-type littermates, and those born to knockout mothers exhibited truncal hair loss that improved after weaning. Despite these deficiencies, the mice's viability suggested the existence of alternative mechanisms for iron acquisition, potentially independent of multicopper ferroxidase activity. This model provided a valuable tool for further research into hephaestin and other proteins involved in intestinal iron transport.