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Published on: January 7, 2014
[Role of hemeoxygenase-1 in the neurodegenerative disorders]
M Orozco-Ibarra1, Y I Chirino, J Pedraza-Chaverrí
1Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF, México.
Aim:
To review some evidences about the role of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) in neurodegenerative disorders.
Development:
HO is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and free iron. They are the inducible HO-1 and the constitutive HO-2. A large body of evidence suggests that HO-1 confers cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Postmortem studies conducted in humans have revealed increase in HO-1 protein in association with Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and Huntington disease. It is unknown the meaning of that increase. Nevertheless, there are evidences indicating that the overexpression of HO-1 contributes to the pathological iron deposition suggesting a detrimental role of HO-1. In contrast, there are evidences indicating that the overexpression of HO-1 decreases the neurotoxin-induced cell death in transgenic mice and neuronal cultures suggesting a cytoprotective role of HO-1.
Conclusion:
It is controversial if the overexpression of HO-1 has a detrimental or cytoprotective role. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the study about the role of the HO-1 in neurodegenerative diseases.
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