Hjv−/−mice exhibit defective hypoferremic response to infection with E coli or treatment with FSL1. Five-week-old male wt and Hjv−/− mice (n = 6 for each experimental group) were either left untreated or received a footpad injection with 108 CFU E coli SP15, or an intraperitoneal injection with 25 ng/g FSL1, and euthanized after 4, 8, or 24 hours. Sera were used for iron biochemistry and livers were processed for preparation of RNA. (A,G) Serum iron; (B,H) transferrin saturation; (C,I) TIBC; (D,J) qPCR analysis of liver Hamp mRNA; (E,K) serum hepcidin; and (F,L) qPCR analysis of liver ferroportin (Fpn + IRE) mRNA in response to E coli infection (A-F) or FSL1 treatment (G-L). All data are presented as the mean plus or minus SEM. Statistical analysis was performed by 2-way ANOVA. Statistically significant differences between E coli–infected or FSL1-treated mice of each genotype and respective untreated controls are indicated by * (P < .05), ** (P < .01), or *** (P < .001).