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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Induction and Testing of Hypoxia in Cell Culture
Published on: August 12, 2011
Expression of heme oxygenase-1 protects endothelial cells from irradiation-induced apoptosis
1Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Abstract:
A common side effect of therapeutic use of ionizing irradiation is endothelial cell damage resulting in a variety of clinical complications. Thus, preservation of endothelial function after irradiation could potentially limit toxicity. Using the murine endothelioma cell line bEnd2 we show here that induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by cobalt protoporphyrine IX (CoPP) inhibits irradiation-induced apoptosis. In contrast, HO-1 induction by tin protoporphyrine IX (SnPP), a HO-1 inhibitor, does not affect survival after irradiation. The protective effects of CoPP could be partially reversed by blockade of HO-1 function with SnPP after induction by CoPP. Vice versa, blockade of HO-1 function by SnPP was reversible using CoPP. Treatment with CoPP inhibited cytochrome c release induced by irradiation. These results demonstrate that HO-1 induction and activation prior to irradiation inhibits endothelial apoptosis and might be used for possible cell protection in vivo.
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