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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Bioluminescence Imaging of Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation in the Gua Sha Procedure
Published on: August 28, 2009
Pharmacologic induction of heme oxygenase-1
Cheng Li1, Parastu Hossieny, Ben J Wu
1Centre for Vascular Research, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective protein whose expression is consistently associated with therapeutic benefits in a number of pathologic conditions such as atherosclerotic vascular disease and inflammation. Although the expression of HO-1 in most tissues is low, a large number of clinical and experimental pharmacologic compounds have been demonstrated to induce HO-1. This induction is suggested to be at least partially responsible for the perceived therapeutic efficacy of these compounds. The increase in HO-1 expression in response to these compounds is the result of a complex regulatory network involving many signaling pathways and transcription factors. Understanding both the pathways by which HO-1 is induced and the mechanism through which the enzyme exerts its beneficial effects may facilitate the development of novel drugs.
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