title: Increased intestinal expression of heme oxygenase-1 and its localization in patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is regarded as a sensitive and reliable indicator of cellular oxidative stress. Two end products of heme degradation, carbon monoxide (CO) and bilirubin, are involved in the protective role of HO-1 against oxidative injury. We have demonstrated enhanced expression of this enzyme and increased concentration of CO in experimental models of colitis, but the role of HO-1 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been extensively investigated. The aim of the present study was to determine the intestinal levels and localization of ho-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein in patients with UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with UC and 13 patients with colon cancer were prospectively selected from subjects who underwent colonoscopy. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the inflamed mucosa of UC patients and from the normal mucosa at least 5 cm from the margin of carcinoma. The expression of ho-1 mRNA was assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The colonic expression of HO-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting using a monoclonal antibody against HO-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of ho-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein was significantly increased in the colonic mucosa of patients with active UC compared with normal mucosa. In the patients with active UC, mononuclear cells in the submucosa of the colon were positive for HO-1, and there was negligible staining in the epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings are evidence of the induction of HO-1 in the colon of UC patients.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Safety Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectual University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Katsura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizushima
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nukigi
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Ikuhiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Tatsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omatsu
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kokura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1