Hepcidin binding nucleic acids

1. A nucleic acid that binds hepcidin, comprising SEQ ID NO:148 or a homolog thereof with homology of at least 85% to SEQ ID NO:148.

2. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is an antagonist of hepcidin.

3. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is an inhibitor of the hepcidin-ferroportin system.

4. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid binds human hepcidin-25, human hepcidin-22, human hepcidin-20, monkey hepcidin-25, monkey hepcidin-22 or monkey hepcidin-20.

5. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the hepcidin has amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

6. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a modification group.

7. The nucleic acid according to claim 6 , wherein the modification group is selected from the group consisting of linear poly (ethylene) glycol (PEG), branched poly (ethylene) glycol (PEG), hydroxyethyl starch (HES), a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, a sterol, polyoxypropylene, polyoxyamidate and poly (2-hydroxyethyl)-L-glutamine.

8. The nucleic acid according to claim 7 , wherein the linear or branched PEG comprises a molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 120,000 Da.

9. The nucleic acid according to claim 7 , wherein the HES comprises a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 200,000 Da.

10. The nucleic acid according to claim 6 , wherein the modification group is coupled to the nucleic acid by a linker.

11. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein nucleotides of or nucleotides comprising the nucleic acid are L-nucleotides.

12. The nucleic acid of claim 6 , wherein said modification group is a linear or a branched PEG.

13. The nucleic acid of claim 6 , wherein said modification group is at a terminus of said nucleic acid.

14. The nucleic acid of claim 6 , wherein said modification group is at the 5′ terminus of said nucleic acid.

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the nucleic acid according to claim 1 and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, pharmaceutically active agents or combinations thereof.

16. A complex comprising the nucleic acid according to claim 1 and hepcidin.

17. A method for the detection of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 in a sample, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

a) providing a sample containing the nucleic acid according to claim 1 ;

b) providing a capture probe, wherein the capture probe is at least partially complementary to a first part of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 , and a detection probe, wherein the detection probe is at least partially complementary to a second part of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 ;

c) allowing the capture probe and the detection probe to react either simultaneously or in any order sequentially with the nucleic acid according to claim 1 to form a complex;

d) optionally detecting whether or not the capture probe is hybridized to the nucleic acid according to claim 1 provided in step a); and

e) detecting the complex formed in step c).