Role of the Menkes ATPase in the Absorption of Both Copper and Iron1

More important, however, is the recognition that, in the grand scheme of things, the entire interorgan messaging of iron and copper metabolism is elegant, from the role of hepcidin in the liver to its communication with ferroportin in the duodenum to block iron entry into the portal circulation. The results suggested that these animals were able to adequately regulate iron absorption through compensatory mechanisms. [...]whereas ATP7a does play a role in iron absorption, it remains to be resolved how important the function of ATP7a is for iron metabolism overall in cases of perturbed ATP7a function, and its overall role in health and disease.