HJV
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Gene summaries condense public reference material; disease links and population data change as databases are updated. Clinical decisions belong with your care team.
hemojuvelin BMP co-receptor
Normal Function
Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
Hereditary hemochromatosis
More than 30 HJV gene mutations have been found to cause type 2 hemochromatosis, a form of hereditary hemochromatosis that begins during childhood or adolescence. Hereditary hemochromatosis is a disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron accumulates in, and eventually damages, the body's tissues and organs.
Most HJV gene mutations change one of the protein building blocks (amino acids) used to make hemojuvelin. Most frequently, the amino acid glycine is replaced by the amino acid valine at protein position 320 (written as Gly320Val or G320V). Other mutations create a premature stop signal in the instructions for making the hemojuvelin protein resulting in an abnormally small protein.
Mutations in the HJV gene lead to an altered hemojuvelin protein that cannot function properly. Without adequate hemojuvelin, hepcidin levels are reduced and iron homeostasis is disturbed. As a result, too much iron is absorbed during digestion, which leads to iron overload and damage to tissues and organs in the body that is found in hereditary hemochromatosis.
More About This Health ConditionRelated Conditions
Hereditary hemochromatosis
Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
More than 30 HJV gene mutations have been found to cause type 2 hemochromatosis, a form of hereditary hemochromatosis that begins during childhood or adolescence. Hereditary hemochromatosis is a disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron accumulates in, and eventually damages, the body's tissues and organs.
Most HJV gene mutations change one of the protein building blocks (amino acids) used to make hemojuvelin. Most frequently, the amino acid glycine is replaced by the amino acid valine at protein position 320 (written as Gly320Val or G320V). Other mutations create a premature stop signal in the instructions for making the hemojuvelin protein resulting in an abnormally small protein.
Mutations in the HJV gene lead to an altered hemojuvelin protein that cannot function properly. Without adequate hemojuvelin, hepcidin levels are reduced and iron homeostasis is disturbed. As a result, too much iron is absorbed during digestion, which leads to iron overload and damage to tissues and organs in the body that is found in hereditary hemochromatosis.