Heme oxygenase-1 system and gastrointestinal tumors

World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jun 7;16(21):2633-7. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i21.2633.

Abstract

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) system catabolizes heme into three products: carbon monoxide, biliverdin/bilirubin and free iron. It is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. A great deal of data has demonstrated the roles of HO-1 in the formation, growth and metastasis of tumors. The interest in this system by investigators involved in gastrointestinal tumors is fairly recent, and few papers on HO-1 have touched upon this subject. This review focuses on the current understanding of the physiological significance of HO-1 induction and its possible roles in the gastrointestinal tumors studied to date. The implications for possible therapeutic manipulation of HO-1 in gastrointestinal tumors are also discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme Induction
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Heme / metabolism
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / genetics
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Heme
  • Heme Oxygenase-1