Heme oxygenase-1 system and gastrointestinal tumors.
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) system catabolizes heme into three products: carbon monoxide, biliverdin/bilirubin and free iron. It is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. A great deal of data has demonstrated the roles of HO-1 in the formation, growth and metastasis of tumors. The interest in this system by investigators involved in gastrointestinal tumors is fairly recent, and few papers on HO-1 have touched upon this subject. This review focuses on the current understanding of the physiological significance of HO-1 induction and its possible roles in the gastrointestinal tumors studied to date. The implications for possible therapeutic manipulation of HO-1 in gastrointestinal tumors are also discussed.
Institute of Oncology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China. bioxzhu@yahoo.com
Xiao
X
Zhu
Wen-Guo
WG
Fan
Dong-Pei
DP
Li
Marie C M
MC
Lin
Hsiangfu
H
Kung
D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D007527:Isoenzymes; D006418:Heme; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1