effects of free iron by storing iron atoms in a chemically less reactive ferrihydrite [@Harrison1977Ferritin]. Extracellular iron circulates bound to transferrin (Tf), and is imported into the cell through the action of membrane bound proteins transferrin receptors 1 and 2 (TfR1 and TfR2). Human haemochromatosis protein (HFE) competes with transferrin bound iron for binding to TfR1 and TfR2 [@West2001Mutational].

Systems Biology provides an excellent methodology for elucidating understanding, through computational modelling, of the complex iron metabolic network. A quantitative model of iron metabolism allows for a careful and principled examination of the effect of the various components of the network. Modelling allows one to do “what-if” experiments leading to new hypotheses that can later be put to test experimentally. However, no comprehensive model of liver iron metabolism exists to date. Models have been published that cover specific molecular events only, such as the loading of iron in ferritin [@Salgado2010Mathematical]. A qualitative map of mammalian iron metabolism provides a detailed overview of the molecular interactions involved in iron metabolism, including in specific cell types [@Hower2009General]. Similarly, a detailed model of iron metabolism and oxidative stress was described but uses a Boolean approach and is specific for yeast [@Achcar2011]. Quantitative models of 