Heme oxygenase-1 system, inflammation and ventilator-induced lung injury.

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation is an indispensable supportive intervention for acute respiratory failure. However, mechanical ventilation can provoke ventilator-induced lung injury, which remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Excessive inflammatory response characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells and overproduction of inflammatory mediators contributes to the pathogenesis of ventilator-induced lung injury. At present, apart from the protective ventilation strategy, no other pharmacological intervention is available to attenuate ventilator-induced lung injury. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the inducible isoform of the first and rate-limiting enzyme which degrades heme into carbon monoxide, ferritin and bilirubin. Accumulating evidence suggests that HO-1 system may function as a crucial negative regulator in the modulation of inflammatory process. This anti-inflammatory action of HO-1 is mediated essentially by the regulation of the key cells involved in inflammation and restoration of the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. Therefore, HO-1 system represents a promising therapeutic target for intervention of ventilator-induced lung injury.

• Authors: Li An, Chang-Ting Liu, Min-Jun Yu, Zhen-Hong Chen, Xue-Guang Guo, Peng-Wang, Jun-Feng Wang, Xiang-Qun Fang, Yan-Hong Gao, Sen-Yang Yu
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 677 Issue 1-3 Pg. 1-4 (Feb 29 2012) ISSN: 1879-0712 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22200625 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Heme Oxygenase-1

Topics

• Animals
• Heme Oxygenase-1 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Inflammation (metabolism)
• Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (enzymology, immunology, prevention & control, therapy)