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Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 297: F1137-F1152, 2009. First published July 1, 2009; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.90449.2008
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REVIEW-ARTICLE

Heme oxygenase: the key to renal function regulation

Nader G. Abraham,1 Jian Cao,1,2 David Sacerdoti,1,3 Xiaoying Li,2 and George Drummond1

1New York Medical College, Department of Pharmacology, Valhalla, New York; ; 2Geriatric Cardiology Department, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China; and ; 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

Submitted August 1, 2008 ; accepted in final form June 9, 2009

Heme oxygenase (HO) plays a critical role in attenuating the production of reactive oxygen species through its ability to degrade heme in an enzymatic process that leads to the production of equimolar amounts of carbon monoxide and biliverdin/bilirubin and the release of free iron. The present review examines the beneficial role of HO-1 (inducible form of HO) that is achieved by increased expression of this enzyme in renal tissue. The influence of the HO system on renal physiology, obesity, vascular dysfunction, and blood pressure regulation is reviewed, and the clinical potential of increased levels of HO-1 protein, HO activity, and HO-derived end products of heme degradation is discussed relative to renal disease. The use of pharmacological and genetic approaches to investigate the role of the HO system in the kidney is key to the development of therapeutic approaches to prevent the adverse effects that accrue due to an impairment in renal function.

stress response genes; antioxidants; transcriptional factors; antiapoptosis; inflammation; acute kidney injury; diabetic nephropathy; hypertension; obesity; carbon monoxide; bilirubin


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: N. G. Abraham, Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595 (e-mail: nader_abraham{at}nymc.edu).






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