SLC40A1 and Sepsis: For instance, anomalies in the Hepcidin and Ferroportin system can result in iron overload in sepsis, which damages the alveolar septa’s ultrastructure and causes membrane-bound iron deposition in AE1 cells, thickening of the gas blood barrier, and proliferation and atrophy of AE2 cells (57); Alveolar epithelial cells’ mRNA level of the RNA binding protein AU rich element RNA binding factor 1 (AUF1) decreases in response to ferroptosis inducers.