Roles of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Neuroinflammation and Brain Disorders

Yi Hsuan Wu, Hsi Lung Hsieh*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The heme oxygenase (HO) system is believed to be a crucial mechanism for the nervous system under stress conditions. HO degrades heme to carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin. These heme degradation products are involved in modulating cellular redox homeostasis. The first identified isoform of the HO system, HO-1, is an inducible protein that is highly expressed in peripheral organs and barely detectable in the brain under normal conditions, whereas HO-2 is a constitutive protein that is highly expressed in the brain. Several lines of evidence indicate that HO-1 dysregulation is associated with brain inflammation and neurodegeneration, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. In this review, we summarize the essential roles that the HO system plays in ensuring brain health and the molecular mechanism through which HO-1 dysfunction leads to neurodegenerative diseases and disruption of nervous system homeostasis. We also provide a summary of the herbal medicines involved in the regulation of HO-1 expression and explore the current situation regarding herbal remedies and brain disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Article number923
JournalAntioxidants
Volume11
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 05 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • heme oxygenase
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • neuroinflammation

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