Local hepcidin increased intracellular iron overload via the degradation of ferroportin in the kidney.

•First, build up kidney cell-specific (HK-2 cell) hepcidin-overexpressed model.•Second, local hepcidin regulates iron metabolism in the kidney by adjusting the expression of FPN1, whereas exogenous hepcidin reduces the expression of DMT1.•Third, co-fluorescence staining of hepcidin and ferrous ions showed renal iron accumulation closely related to local hepcidin.