SLC40A1 and colitis: We postulated that: 1) the severity of colitis would not be exacerbated in the KOs, since (paradoxically) the intestinal epithelium is iron depleted due to high FPN1 iron export activity [32, 34–36]; 2) iron demand would be similarly increased in Hamp-/- rats during acute intestinal inflammation (to support the immune response and tissue regeneration); and 3) increased demand for iron could be met (at least in part), by release of storage iron (which is at maximal capacity in these rats).