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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 9, 2015
Haem arginate infusion stimulates haem oxygenase-1 expression in healthy subjects
D Doberer1, A Haschemi, M Andreas
1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Background And Purpose:
Haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is an inducible protein that plays a major protective role in conditions such as ischaemia-reperfusion injury and inflammation. In this study, we have investigated the role of haem arginate (HA) in human male subjects in the modulation of HO-1 expression and its correlation with the GT length polymorphism (GT(n)) in the promoter of the HO-1 gene.
Experimental Approach:
In a dose-escalation, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, seven healthy male subjects with a homozygous short (S/S) and eight with a long (L/L) GT(n) genotype received intravenous HA. HO-1 protein expression and mRNA levels in peripheral blood monocytes, bilirubin, haptoglobin, haemopexin and haem levels were analysed over a 48 h observation period.
Key Results:
We found that the baseline mRNA levels of HO-1 were higher in L/L subjects, while protein levels were higher in S/S subjects. HA induced a dose-dependent increase in the baseline corrected area under the curve values of HO-1 mRNA and protein over 48 h. The response of HO-1 mRNA was more pronounced in L/L subjects but the protein level was similar across the groups.
Conclusions And Implication:
HA is an effective inducer of HO-1 in humans irrespective of the GT(n) genotype. The potential therapeutic application of HA needs to be evaluated in clinical trials.
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