title: The role of heme oxygenase-1 in pulmonary disease.
abstract: Heme oxygenase (HO)-1, the inducible isoform of heme oxygenase, is a cytoprotective enzyme that plays a central role in the defense against oxidative and inflammatory insults in the lung. HO-1 catalyzes the degradation of heme, a potent oxidant, into biliverdin, iron, and carbon monoxide (CO). These downstream products of heme catabolism have recently been found to mediate the antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antiproliferative, vasodilatory, and anti-inflammatory properties of HO-1. Although absence of HO-1 is rare in humans, a number of HO-1 promoter polymorphisms have been identified that may influence HO-1 expression in vivo and lead to disease states. This review will summarize studies that implicate HO-1 and heme metabolites in the pathophysiology of pulmonary disease and discuss recent advances in the therapeutic applications of HO-1.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. lfredenburgh@partners.org
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fredenburgh
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perrella
authors.forename: S Alex
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mitsialis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1