The iron efflux protein ferroportin regulates the intracellular growth of Salmonella enterica.

We investigated the influence of the macrophage iron exporter ferroportin and its ligand hepcidin on intracellular Salmonella growth. Elevated ferroportin expression inhibited bacterial multiplication; hepcidin-induced ferroportin down-regulation enhanced it. Expression analysis of iron-responsive Salmonella genes indicated ferroportin-mediated iron deprivation. These results demonstrate a role for ferroportin in antimicrobial resistance.