Therapeutic Potential of Heme Oxygenase-1/carbon Monoxide System Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Title:Therapeutic Potential of Heme Oxygenase-1/carbon Monoxide System Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Volume: 23 Issue: 26

Author(s): Yuanyuan Cheng and Jianhui Rong*

Affiliation:

• School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, P.O. Box: 0000-000, Hong Kong,China

Keywords: Ischemia-reperfusion injury, hemo oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, pharmacological induction.

Abstract: Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury causes the dysfunctions of different major organs, leading to morbidity and mortality on the global scale. Among a battery of therapeutic targets, the heme oxygenase- 1 (HO-1)/carbon monoxide (CO) system has been evaluated for the development of new therapies against I/R injury. The enzyme HO-1 catalyzes the degradation of heme into three biologically active end products, namely biliverdin/bilirubin, CO and ferrous ion. Interestingly, CO is one of a few bioactive gaseous molecules with the capability of regulating inflammation, cell survival and growth. In fact, several CO-releasing compounds have been developed for directly reprogramming the intracellular apoptotic, inflammatory and proliferative signaling networks. In parallel, chemical and genetic approaches have also been evaluated for up-regulating HO-1 expression as an endogenous mechanism to ameliorate I/R injury and heal wounds.

Methods: In this review, we discussed the recent studies on the therapeutic potential of HO-1/CO system in the treatment of I/R injury in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, lung, intestine and retina. We focused on the activities and underlying mechanisms of various therapeutic strategies to regulate HO-1/CO system against I/R injury.

Results: A large number of studies have demonstrated that HO-1/CO system exhibits potent anti-oxidative, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activities against I/R injury. The regulation of HO-1/CO expression has been achieved either by genetic overexpression of HO-1 cDNA or pharmacological induction with drugs including curcumin and resveratrol.

Conclusion: The HO-1/CO system is a potential target for treating I/R injury. Further studies should be directed to in vivo efficacy and clinical application of HO-1/CO system in the therapy of I/R injury.

Cite this article as:

Cheng Yuanyuan and Rong Jianhui *, Therapeutic Potential of Heme Oxygenase-1/carbon Monoxide System Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (26) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170413122439