Vitamin A deficiency modulates iron metabolism independent of hemojuvelin (Hfe2) and bone morphogenetic protein 6 (Bmp6) transcript levels

BACKGROUND: Considering that vitamin A deficiency modulates hepcidin expression and consequently affects iron metabolism, we evaluated the effect of vitamin A deficiency in the expression of genes involved in the hemojuvelin (HJV)-bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6)-small mothers against decapentaplegic protein (SMAD) signaling pathway. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were treated: control AIN-93G diet (CT), vitamin A-deficient diet (VAD), iron-deficient diet (FeD), vitamin A- and iron-deficient diet (VAFeD), or 12 mg all-trans retinoic acid (atRA)/kg diet. RESULTS: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) increased hepatic Bmp6 and Hfe2 mRNA levels and down-regulated hepatic Hamp, Smad7, Rarα, and intestinal Fpn1 mRNA levels compared with the control. The FeD rats showed lower hepatic Hamp, Bmp6, and Smad7 mRNA levels compared with those of the control, while in the VAFeD rats only Hamp and Smad7 mRNA levels were lower than those of the control. The VAFeD diet up-regulated intestinal Dmt1 mRNA levels in relation to those of the control. The replacement of retinyl ester by atRA did not restore hepatic Hamp mRNA levels; however, the hepatic Hfe2, Bmp6, and Smad7 mRNA levels were similar to the control. The atRA rats showed an increase of hepatic Rarα mRNA levels and a reduction of intestinal Dmt1 mRNA and Fpn1 levels compared with those of the control. CONCLUSIONS: The HJV-BMP6-SMAD signaling pathway that normally activates the expression of hepcidin in iron deficiency is impaired by vitamin A deficiency despite increased expression of liver Bmp6 and Hfe2 mRNA levels and decreased expression of Smad7 mRNA. This response may be associated to the systemic iron deficiency and spleen iron retention promoted by vitamin A deficiency. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12263-016-0519-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.