Heme Oxygenase-1 : Its Therapeutic Roles in Inflammatory Diseases

• Published in: Immune network Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 12 - 13
• Main Authors: Pae, Hyun-Ock, Chung, Hun-Taeg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한면역학회 01.02.2009; The Korean Association of Immunobiologists
• Subjects: Review; 면역학; mitogen-activated protein kinase; nuclear factor E2-related factor-2; carbon monoxide; heme oxygenase-1; bilirubin/biliverdin; inflammation
• ISSN: 1598-2629; 2092-6685; 2092-6685
• DOI: 10.4110/in.2009.9.1.12

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the oxidative degradation of free heme into ferrous iron, carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin (BV), the latter being subsequently converted into bilirubin (BR). HO-1, once expressed during inflammation, forms high concentrations of its enzymatic by-products that can influence various biological events, and this expression is proven to be associated with the resolution of inflammation. The degradation of heme by HO-1 itself, the signaling actions of CO, the antioxidant properties of BV/BR, and the sequestration of ferrous iron by ferritin all concertedly contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of HO-1. This review focuses on the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of HO-1 actions and its roles in inflammatory diseases.