title: The heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase system in skin cancers.
abstract: The heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase (HO/BVR) pathway enhances cell stress response by degrading excess heme or producing antioxidant and cytoprotective molecules. Recently, members of the HO/BVR system have been proposed as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of free radical-related diseases. In this study, the presence of both the inducible and constitutive HO isoforms (HO-1 and HO-2, respectively) and BVR was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in human skin cancer samples. Moderate/strong immunoreactivities against HO-1, HO-2 and BVR were detected in 100% of the nodular malignant melanoma samples, whereas in basal cell carcinoma specimens these figures were 62%, 88% and 60%, respectively, with a faint/moderate degree of expression. Faint/moderate HO-1, HO-2 and BVR immunoreactivities were detected in 33%, 66% and 100% of melanocytic nevi samples, respectively. In conclusion, HO-1 and HO-2 and BVR were expressed in the cytosols of skin cancer cells, whereas perilesional normal epidermis showed only faint staining, thus leading to the hypothesis that the HO/BVR system is activated in skin cancers.
authors: Institute of Pathology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Arena
authors: Institute of Pathology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Pennacchia
authors: Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Guerriero
authors: Institute of Pharmacology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology; D008875:Middle Aged; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C105245:heme oxygenase-2; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C019789:biliverdin reductase