HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Heme oxygenase-1: unleashing the protective properties of heme.

Abstract
Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 catabolizes heme into three products: carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin (which is rapidly converted to bilirubin) and free iron (which leads to the induction of ferritin, an iron-binding protein). HO-1 serves as a "protective" gene by virtue of the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative actions of one or more of these three products. Administration of CO, biliverdin, bilirubin or iron-binding compounds is protective in rodent disease models of ischemia-reperfusion injury, allograft and xenograft survival, intimal hyperplasia following balloon injury or as seen in chronic graft rejection and others. We suggest that the products of HO-1 action could be valuable therapeutic agents and speculate that HO-1 functions as a "therapeutic funnel", mediating the beneficial effects attributed to other molecules, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2; iNOS) and prostaglandins. This Review is the third in a series on the regulation of the immune system by metabolic pathways.
AuthorsLeo E Otterbein, Miguel P Soares, Kenichiro Yamashita, Fritz H Bach
JournalTrends in immunology (Trends Immunol) Vol. 24 Issue 8 Pg. 449-55 (Aug 2003) ISSN: 1471-4906 [Print] England
PMID12909459 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)
Chemical References
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protective Agents
  • Heme
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • HMOX1 protein, human
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Biliverdine
  • Bilirubin
Topics
  • Animals
  • Bilirubin (immunology, metabolism)
  • Biliverdine (immunology, metabolism)
  • Carbon Monoxide (immunology, metabolism)
  • Heme (immunology, metabolism)
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) (immunology)
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protective Agents (metabolism)
  • Signal Transduction (immunology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: