Heme oxygenase-1 and carbon monoxide: emerging therapeutic targets in inflammation and allergy.
Cumulative evidence suggests that the induction of the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory heme oxygenase (HO)-1 may play a protective role in allergic inflammation. HO-1 suppresses mast cell degranulation and cytokine synthesis. The up-regulation of the HO-1 pathway has a significant protective effect against airway inflammation, mucus hyper-secretion, and hyper-responsiveness in a model of allergic asthma. Moreover, HO-1 inhibits T cell-dependent skin inflammation and differentiation and function of antigen-presenting cells. The precise underlying mechanisms for HO-1-based protection against allergic inflammation are not yet completely understood, but appear to involve the protective effects of HO-1 by-products, such as carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin/bilirubin and free iron. Among the HO-1 by-products, CO has been shown to mimic some protective actions of HO-1 in allergic inflammations. This article reviews the latest knowledge, recent patent and studies on the protective roles and mechanisms of HO-1/CO in inflammation and allergy.
Pae
Hyun-Ock
HO
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Yong C
YC
Chung
Hun-Taeg
HT
D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D015854:Up-Regulation
D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1