Involvement of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Title:Involvement of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Volume: 24 Issue: 20

Author(s): Vivian B. Neis, Priscila B. Rosa, Morgana Moretti and Ana Lucia S. Rodrigues*

Affiliation:

• Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis-SC,Brazil

Keywords: Central nervous system, heme oxygenase-1, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress.

Abstract: Heme oxygenase (HO) family catalyzes the conversion of heme into free iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin. It possesses two well-characterized isoforms: HO-1 and HO-2. Under brain physiological conditions, the expression of HO-2 is constitutive, abundant and ubiquitous, whereas HO-1 mRNA and protein are restricted to small populations of neurons and neuroglia. HO-1 is an inducible enzyme that has been shown to participate as an essential defensive mechanism for neurons exposed to oxidant challenges, being related to antioxidant defenses in certain neuropathological conditions. Considering that neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)) and neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder (BD) and schizophrenia) are associated with increased inflammatory markers, impaired redox homeostasis and oxidative stress, conditions that may be associated with alterations in HO-levels/activity, the purpose of this review is to present evidence on the possible role of HO-1 in these Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases. In addition, the possible therapeutic potential of targeting brain HO-1 is explored in this review.

Cite this article as:

Neis B. Vivian , Rosa B. Priscila , Moretti Morgana and Rodrigues Lucia S. Ana *, Involvement of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2018; 24 (20) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180717160623