Real-time PCR analysis of iron transporter transcripts following hepcidin treatment. Real-time PCR analysis of total RNA isolated from Caco-2 TC7 cells demonstrated that DMT1 (+IRE) mRNA levels were significantly decreased following exposure to hepcidin for 24 hours (^*P < .005, Student unpaired t test), whereas DMT1 (non-IRE) (P > .08) and IREG1 (P > .1) mRNA levels were unaffected by hepcidin treatment. Quantitative measurements for each transporter mRNA were derived from a standard curve constructed from known amounts of PCR product. Data have been normalized to the expression of the housekeeper gene HPRT and are expressed as means ± SEM from 6 separate experiments.