title: Heme oxygenase-1: its therapeutic roles in inflammatory diseases.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ock
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Pae
authors.forename: Hun-Taeg
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung