title: CO as a cellular signaling molecule.
abstract: Many biological functions of heme oxygenase (HO), such as cytoprotection against oxidative stress, vasodilation, neurotransmission in the central or peripheral nervous systems, and anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, or anti-proliferative potential, have been attributed to its enzymatic byproduct carbon monoxide (CO), although roles for biliverdin/bilirubin and iron have also been proposed. In addition to these well-characterized effects, recent findings reveal that HO-derived CO may act as an oxygen sensor and circadian modulator of heme biosynthesis. In lymphocytes, CO may participate in regulatory T cell function. A number of the known signaling effects of CO depend on stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase and/or activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Furthermore, modulation of caveolin-1 status may serve as an essential component of certain aspects of CO action, such as growth control. In this review, we summarize recent findings of the beneficial or detrimental effects of endogenous CO with an emphasis on the signaling pathways and downstream targets that trigger the action of this gas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. kimhp@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Hong Pyo
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Stefan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ryter
authors.forename: Augustine M K
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000502:physiology*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006420:Hemeproteins; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases