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Heme oxygenase: function, multiplicity, regulatory mechanisms, and clinical applications.

In biological systems oxidation of heme is carried out by two isozymes of the microsomal heme oxygenase, HO-1 and HO-2. HO-1 is the commonly known heme oxygenase, the activity of which can be induced by up to 100-fold in response to a wide variety of stimuli (metals, heme, hormones, etc.). HO-2 was only recently discovered, and the isozyme appears to be uninducible. The two forms are products of two different genes and differ in their tissue expression. The primary structure of HO-1 and an HO-2 fragment of 91 amino acid residues show only 58% homology, but share a region with 100% secondary structure homology. This region is believed to be the catalytic site. Most likely, HO-1 gene is regulated in the same manner as metallothione in the gene. HO-1 has a heat shock regulatory element, and possibly many promoter elements, which bind to respective inducers and cause transcription of the gene. In vivo induction of HO-1 activity in the liver is accompanied by decreases in the total P-450 levels and, in a reconstituted system, cytochrome P-450b heme can be quantitatively converted to biliverdin by HO-1 and HO-2. The enzyme activity is inhibited in vivo for extended periods subsequent to binding of Zn- and Sn- protoporphyrins. This property appears useful for the suppression of bilirubin production. The metalloporphyrins, however, are not innocuous and cause major disruptions in cellular metabolism. In this review recent findings on heme oxygenase are highlighted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Variations of the 2-His-1-carboxylate theme in mononuclear non-heme FeII oxygenases.

A facial triad of two histidine side chains and one aspartate or glutamate side chain forms the canonical metal-coordinating motif in the catalytic centers of various mononuclear non-heme Fe(II) enzymes. Although these active sites are based on totally unrelated protein folds and bring about a wide range of chemical transformations, most of them share the ability to couple dioxygen reduction with the oxygenation of an organic substrate. With the increasing number of protein structures now solved, it has become clear that the 2-His-1-carboxylate signature is less of a paradigm for non-heme Fe(II) active sites than had long been thought and that it can be replaced by alternative metal centers in various oxygenases, the structure-function relationships and proposed catalytic mechanisms of which are reviewed here. Metal coordination through three histidines and one glutamate constitutes the classical motif described for enzyme members of the cupin protein superfamily, such as aci-reductone dioxygenase and quercetin dioxygenase, multiple metal forms of which (including the Fe(II) type) are found in nature. Cysteine dioxygenase and diketone dioxygenase, which are strictly Fe(II)-dependent oxygenases based on the cupin fold, bind the catalytic metal through the homologous triad of histidines, but lack the fourth glutamate ligand. An alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent Fe(II) halogenase shows metal coordination by two histidines as the only protein-derived ligands, whilst carotene oxygenase, from a different protein fold family, features an Fe(II) site consisting of four histidine side chains. These recently discovered metallocenters are discussed with respect to their metal-binding properties and the reaction coordinates of the O(2)-dependent conversions they catalyze.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Heme oxygenase is a heat shock protein and PEST protein in rat astroglial cells.

Cultured rat forebrain astrocytes contained significant amounts of immunostainable heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) isozyme, whereas HO-1 was undetectable in spontaneously transformed rat astroglial cells (ATs). HO-1 was inducible in both cell types by heat shock and by submicromolar amounts of H2O2. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D or protein synthesis with cycloheximide resulted in the rapid loss of immunostainable heme oxygenase in astrocytes. Analysis of the primary structure of heme oxygenase suggests that it is a PEST protein, i.e., targeted for rapid turnover.

Animals↗

Demonstration that histidine 25, but not 132, is the axial heme ligand in rat heme oxygenase-1.

A truncated, soluble rat heme oxygenase-1 lacking its C-terminal, membrane-anchoring segment, and its His25-->Ala and His132-->Ala mutants have been prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and expression in Escherichia coli. We found that wild-type enzyme can degrade heme to biliverdin, but its specific activity was about one-fifth that of the native, full-length enzyme, suggesting that the C-terminal segment is important for accepting electrons from NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase. His132-->Ala mutant had an enzyme activity comparable to that of the wild-type enzyme; hence, the highly conserved His132 is not essential for the display of the heme oxygenase activity. In contrast, His25-->Ala mutation completely abolished the enzyme's catalytic activity. A five-coordinate type ferrous NO EPR spectrum was observed for the heme-heme oxygenase H25A complex. Hence, we conclude that His25 is the proximal axial ligand of the heme iron and is essential for the heme degradation activity of the enzyme.

Animals↗

Contributions of NO synthase and heme oxygenase to cGMP formation by cytokine and hemin treated brain capillary endothelial cells.

Two mechanisms contribute to cGMP formation by soluble guanylyl cyclase (i) NO production by NO synthase and (ii) CO production by heme oxygenase. We analyze here the contributions of these two pathways to IL1, TNF, lipopolysaccharide and hemin treated brain capillary endothelial cells. Cytokines and LPS induced cGMP formation in manners that were completely prevented by LY 83,583, methylene blue and by cyclosporin A. They were partially inhibited by inhibitor of NO synthase. Cyclosporin A acts by a posttranscriptional mechanism. Cells constitutively expressed mRNAs for heme oxygenase-1. Expression was enhanced by hemin but not by IL1 or lipopolysaccharide. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 and its inhibition by Sn protoporphyrin IX had no effect on cGMP levels.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Downregulation of the human heme oxygenase gene by glucocorticoids and identification of 56b regulatory elements.

Several human heme oxygenase-1 promoter-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs were examined in order to analyze promoter activity of the heme oxygenase-1 gene in microvessel endothelial cells. Heme oxygenase promoter activity was up-regulated by interleukin-6. This induction was shown to be down-regulated by glucocorticoids. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays revealed that the promoter region (56 base pair) between -180 and -120 was responsible for up-regulation by growth factors, as well as for glucocorticoid-directed down-regulation. The same DNA fragments was shown to bind nuclear factor(s) from endothelial cells treated with dexamethasone. Formation of DNA protein complexes peaked after a 6-hour treatment. The DNA fragment was found to contain a sequence recognized by the STAT 3/acute phase response factor.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

A precursor of the nitric oxide donor SIN-1 modulates the stress protein heme oxygenase-1 in rat liver.

In this study the effect of increased nitric oxide (NO) production on the expression of rat liver heme oxygenase-1, an inducible stress protein responsible for the catalysis of heme to biliverdin and carbon monoxide, was investigated. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with molsidomine (SIN-10), a long acting drug that is enzymatically converted in the liver to yield the active NO-releasing agent 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1). Administration of SIN-10 resulted in a significant time- and dose-dependent increase in plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate, an index of NO release. A time course of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA levels in liver showed a gradual increase in the expression of the gene encoding for this protein, which was maximal at 4 hours and returned to normal levels by 6 hours after SIN-10 treatment. Heme oxygenase activity also increased by 50% at 4 hours and was maximal 12 hours after SIN-10 administration (63% increase over baseline). These results indicate a possible role for locally generated NO in the modulation of hepatic stress response in vivo suggesting that NO mediates cell adaptation to stress by activation of endogenous defensive mechanisms.

Animals↗

Heme oxygenase synthesis is induced in cultured lens epithelium by hyperbaric oxygen or puromycin.

We showed previously that treatment of cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells (LECs) with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) produced DNA strand-breaks, caused reversible inhibition of protein synthesis and induced the synthesis of a 32 kD protein. In the present work, we employed immunostaining procedures to identify the 32 kD protein as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Increased synthesis of the enzyme was observed as early as 12 hr after HBO-treatment, reached a maximum at 18 hr and was not detectable at 36 hr. Exposure of the cells to hemin also increased the synthesis of HO-1. An HBO-induced inhibition of protein synthesis and the subsequent induction of HO-1 was also observed in the capsule-epithelium of cultured rabbit lenses. For both LECs and the cultured lens, only HO-1 and not heme oxygenase-2 was HBO-inducible. Use of the antioxidant dimethylthiourea with HBO-treated lenses or LECs did not alter the observed effects on protein synthesis or the induction of HO-1. In contrast to results obtained with 50 atm O2, a pressure of 25 atm O2 inhibited protein synthesis only slightly and failed to induce synthesis of the 32 kD protein (although, as shown previously, identical exposure of LECs to 25 atm O2 significantly damaged DNA). Inhibition of protein synthesis in LECs and cultured lenses with the use of puromycin also induced synthesis of HO-1. Both hemin (10 micron), a source of iron, and 50 atm O2 produced a three-fold increase in the concentration of ferritin, a natural iron chelator, in LECs two days after exposure; no effects on ferritin levels were observed after 1 or 3 days. The finding that the increase in ferritin concentration occurred in the cells significantly after hemin- or HBO-induced synthesis of heme oxygenase indicates that chelatable iron rather than the heme molecule itself may have been the primary agent responsible for inducing ferritin synthesis. The data suggest that HBO-induced synthesis of HO-1 in the lens epithelium may be the result of an inhibition of protein synthesis, possibly leading to an accumulation of heme, rather than a direct protective response against oxidative stress.

Animals↗

Induction of heme oxygenase in intestinal epithelial cells: studies in Caco-2 cell cultures.

Enterally administered, heme is a good source of iron in humans and other animals, but the metabolism of heme by enterocytes has not been fully characterized. Caco-2 cells in culture provide a useful model for studying cells that resemble small intestinal epithelium, both morphologically and functionally. In this paper we show that heme oxygenase, the rate-controlling enzyme of heme catabolism, is present in abundance in Caco-2 cells, and that levels of its mRNA and activity can be increased by exposure of the cells to heme or metal ions (cadmium, cobalt). Caco-2 cells also contain biliverdin reductase activity which, in the basal state, is similar to that of heme oxygenase (approximately 40 pmole of product per mg protein per minute); however, when heme oxygenase is induced, biliverdin reductase may become rate-limiting for bilirubin production.

Enzyme Induction↗

Effects of age, phenobarbital, beta-naphthoflavone and dexamethasone on rat hepatic heme oxygenase.

There is a wide range of change in both microsomal heme oxygenase activity and cytochrome P-450 level in the livers of rats of various ages. We tried to investigate the phases of heme oxygenase activity, both spontaneous and caused by typical MFO inducers in the lifetime of the rat. Wistar male rats aged 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 20 and 28 months received phenobarbital (50 mg/kg) twice, 3 and 2 days before being killed. beta-Naphthoflavone and dexamethasone were given three times: 3, 2 and 1 day before decapitation 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively). The highest heme oxygenase activity is observed in intact 2-week-old animals (1.16 +/- 0.038 nM/h per mg protein). Before maturity this activity decreases slightly up to the 2nd month of life. Then it stabilizes and remains virtually unchanged till the 8th month of life (1.02 +/- 0.03). Afterwards HO activity tends to increase until the 28th month of life (1.10 +/- 0.06), but does not reach the level observed in the 2-week-old animals. We have found that some typical MFO inducers can modify HO activity. While phenobarbital stimulates HO activity only in premature animals (1.42 +/- 0.056; 1.30 +/- 0.059 and 1.13 +/- 0.035, respectively in 0.5-, 1- and 2-month-old animals), beta-naphthoflavone enhances HO activity in all the groups studied. Dexamethasone, as a physiological inducer of the MFO system, modifies HO activity very characteristically. It induces this activity until the 2nd month of life and then its inducibility appears to remain unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Increased expression and activity of heme oxygenase-2 in pregnant rat aorta is not involved in attenuated vasopressin-induced contraction.

Pregnancy is associated with attenuated vascular reactivity to a variety of contractile agonists. Heme oxygenases are expressed in the placenta, and it has been suggested that the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (HO/CO) pathway plays a significant role in regulating blood flow through the feto-placental unit. In this study we investigated the possible involvement of heme oxygenases in the reduced vascular reactivity associated with pregnancy. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) (10(-10)-3x10(-7) M) induced concentration-dependent contraction of aortic ring segments from non-pregnant and pregnant (16-19 days) rats. Pregnancy did not alter the sensitivity to AVP (pD2=8.5+/-0.1 and pD2=8.4+/-0.2 in non-pregnant and pregnant rats, respectively) but significantly reduced the maximum response (107.9+/-12.7% and 38.6+/-7.4%, respectively, relative to noradrenaline-induced contraction). Western blot analysis revealed the expression of HO-2 but not HO-1 isoform in both groups. There was a significant increase in the expression and activity of HO-2 protein in aortic tissues from pregnant rats compared with those from age-matched non-pregnant rats. In the presence of L-NAME to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP-IX, 10(-5) M), an inhibitor of heme oxygenase, did not significantly affect AVP-induced contraction in aorta segments from pregnant and non-pregnant rats. It was concluded that, though pregnancy increased the expression and activity of HO-2 in the aorta, HO-2 was not involved in the attenuated response to AVP.

Animals↗

Oxygenases without requirement for cofactors or metal ions.

Mono- and dioxygenases usually depend on a transition metal or an organic cofactor to activate dioxygen, or their organic substrate, or both. This review points out that there are at least two separate families of oxygenases without any apparent requirement for cofactors or metal ions: the quinone-forming monooxygenases which are important 'tailoring enzymes' in the biosynthesis of several types of aromatic polyketide antibiotics, and the bacterial dioxygenases involved in the degradation of distinct quinoline derivatives, catalyzing the 2,4-dioxygenolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-4-quinolones with concomitant release of carbon monoxide. The quinone-forming monooxygenases might be useful for the modification of polyketide structures, either by using them as biocatalysts, or by employing combinatorial biosynthesis approaches. Cofactor-less oxygenases present the mechanistically intriguing problem of how dioxygen is activated for catalysis. However, the reactions catalyzed by these enzymes are poorly understood in mechanistic terms. Formation of a protein radical and a substrate-derived radical, or direct electron transfer from a deprotonated substrate to molecular oxygen to form a caged radical pair may be discussed as hypothetical mechanisms. The latter reaction route is expected for substrates that can easily donate an electron to dioxygen, and requires the ability of the enzyme to stabilize anionic intermediates. Histidine residues found to be catalytically relevant in both types of cofactor-less oxygenases might be involved in substrate deprotonation and/or electrostatic stabilization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Photochemically driven models of oxygenases based on the use of iron porphyrins.

Photoexcited iron porphyrins can be used to mimic the catalytic activity of cytochrome P-450 oxygenases both in the reduction of halogenated alkanes and in the oxidation of hydrocarbons by O2 itself at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The results reported indicate that there is a similarity and a complementarity of photonic activation with other more conventional methods of activation of model systems of oxygenases. In fact, by irradiating at suitable wavelengths, it is possible to induce redox reactions which mimic those of natural oxygenases, avoiding the difficulties caused by parallel processes which could be expected when chemical reagents are used. These processes occur with good turnover values of the photocatalyst and in mild temperature and pressure conditions. By controlling the reaction environment, it is possible to address the selectivity of the process. In this regard, the very recent results obtained after heterogenization of the photocatalysts inside membranes of Nafion are particularly promising for the development of new biomimetic photocatalysts in heterogeneous or organized systems.

Animals↗

Ketamine-induced gastroprotection during endotoxemia: role of heme-oxygenase-1.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase contributes to lipopolysacharide-induced gastric injury. In contrast, heme-oxygenase-1 has anti-inflammatory effects and is protective against oxidative tissue injury. Ketamine attenuates injury from lipopolysacharide and is associated with changes in oxidative stress proteins, but its effects on the stomach remain to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that ketamine would diminish gastric injury from lipopolysacharide via down-regulation of nuclear factor-kappass, activator protein-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase, as well as up-regulation of heme-oxygenase-1. Ketamine up-regulated heme-oxygenase-1 and attenuated lipopolysacharide-induced changes in gastric nuclear factor-kappass, activator protein-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Ketamine negated LPS-induced gastric injury from acidified ethanol, an effect reversed by tin protoporphorin IX. Ketamine diminishes the susceptibility of gastric mucosa to damage from luminal irritants during endotoxemia, which is mediated in part by down-regulation of iNOS and up-regulation of HO-1.

Analysis of Variance↗

Multiple molecular forms of diarylpropane oxygenase, an H2O2-requiring, lignin-degrading enzyme from Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Three different molecular forms of the H2O2-requiring heme enzyme, diarylpropane oxygenase, were isolated from the extracellular medium of Na-acetate buffered, agitated cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Forms I, II, and III were separated by DEAE-Sepharose and further purified on Sephadex G-100. Absorption maxima of the native, reduced, and a variety of ligand complexes of the three enzyme forms are essentially identical, indicating similar heme environments. All forms also have similar, but not identical, reactivity. The homogeneous proteins oxidized a diarylpropane, an olefin, a beta-aryl ether dimer, a phenylpropane, phenylpropane diols, and veratryl alcohol. Identical products were produced from each form. However, the specific activities of the three homogeneous enzymes for veratryl alcohol oxidation were 18.75, 11.80, and 8.48 mumol min-1 mg-1. In the presence of one equivalent of H2O2 the Soret maximum of diarylpropane oxygenase II shifted from 408 to 418 nm, and two additional maxima appeared at 526 and 553 nm, indicating the presence of an Fe(IV)-oxo species equivalent to horseradish peroxidase II. This oxidized species could be reduced back to the native form by veratryl alcohol and several reducing agents (e.g., Na2S2O4, NH2NH2, thiourea, or NADH). The molecular weights of diarylpropane oxygenases I, II, and III were approximately 39,000, 41,000, and 43,000, respectively. The major form (II) (85% of the activity) contained approximately 6% neutral carbohydrate. The affinity of the forms for concanavalin A-agarose suggests that they all are glycoenzymes.

Basidiomycota↗

Human heme oxygenase-2: characterization and expression of a full-length cDNA and evidence suggesting that the two HO-2 transcripts may differ by choice of polyadenylation signal.

We show by Northern blot analysis that human HO-2 is encoded by two transcripts (1.3 and 1.7 kb) and is a single-copy gene as judged by Southern blot analysis. We further provide evidence based on Northern blot and sequence analysis of a cDNA representing the larger transcript that the transcripts differ in the 3' untranslated region. A 274-base-pair DNA fragment from the rat heme oxygenase-2 gene (I. Cruse and M.D. Maines, 1988, J. Biol. Chem. 263, 3348-3353) was used to isolate a human HO-2 cDNA from a fetal kidney library in lambda gt11. The clone, designated hK-1, was sequenced and the cDNA insert was determined to be 1625 base pairs in length, encoding a protein of 313 amino acids. Two consensus polyadenylation signals separated by 440 nucleotides were identified in the 3' untranslated region. The size of the cDNA insert closely approximated the larger of two mRNAs. The nucleotide sequence was 88% identical to the rat HO-2 gene within the predicted coding region and the putative translation product was also estimated to be 88% identical to the rat gene product (M. O. Rotenberg and D. Maines, 1990, J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7501). The predicted size, 36 kDa, corresponded well with HO-2 detected in human testis microsomes by Western blot analysis. Further, the fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli displayed significant heme oxygenase activity, which was inhibited by Zn- and Sn-protoporphyrins, known inhibitors of eukaryotic heme oxygenase, but not by sulfhydryl reagents.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Corticosterone promotes increased heme oxygenase-2 protein and transcript expression in the newborn rat brain.

Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is the predominant heme oxygenase isozyme in neurons in the brain, the enzyme cleaves the heme molecule at the alpha-meso carbon bridge to form CO, Fe and biliverdin. Recently, in the promotor region of the HO-2 gene a consensus sequence of the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) has been identified. Presently, we have investigated the potential relevance of the GRE to the expression of the isozyme, at the transcript and protein levels, in the 14 day old rat brain, by examining the effect of postparturition corticosterone treatment (4 days, starting 24-36 h after birth) on the developmental pattern of HO-2 expression. Northern blot analysis showed that HO-2 transcripts (approximately 1.3 and approximately 1.9 kb) in brain increase with age. In many brain nuclei, HO-2 protein, as visualized by immunohistochemistry, was detected at low levels in neurons in the 14 day old rat brain. Postparturition exposure to corticosterone resulted in a marked enhancement of HO-2 immunoreactivity in several neuronal populations, including, among others, the cerebellum, the hippocampal formation, and the oculomotor and red nuclei. The response to elevated levels of corticosterone was particularly striking in the Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum and the CA3 region of the hippocampus. This was linked to an increase in gene transcription, as indicated by in situ hybridization analysis, which revealed an increase in the signal for HO-2 transcripts in these regions. Elevated levels of heme oxygenase activity and HO-2 protein were consistent with an increase in catalytically active protein expression. These data point to the intimate involvement of the adrenal steroids in developmentally-linked HO-2 expression in the neurons involved in motor function and cognition, and hence, identify a potentially important aspect of the adrenal steroids' effect on brain growth and differentiation.

Aging↗

Effect of chloroquine on hepatic heme-oxygenase during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.

Hepatic heme-oxygenase and heme levels were monitored during Plasmodium berghei infection and chloroquine treatment in Swiss albino mice. A progressive increase in heme-oxygenase and heme levels was noticed with the rise in parasitemia. Further, chloroquine treatment did not result in any change towards normal heme-oxygenase and heme content, when they were assayed a week after cessation of drug treatment. Chloroquine treatment of non-parasitized and parasitized mice resulted in significant loss of the enzyme activity after about 6 weeks.

Animals↗