Crystallization of recombinant human heme oxygenase-1

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the NADPH, O2, and cytochrome P450 reductase dependent oxidation of heme to biliverdin and carbon monoxide. One of two primary isozymes, HO-1, is anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane via a stretch of hydrophobic residues at the C-terminus. While full-length human HO-1 consists of 288 residues, a truncated version with residues 1-265 has been expressed as a soluble active enzyme in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme crystallized from ammonium sulfate solutions but the crystals were not of sufficient quality for diffraction studies. SDS gel analysis indicated that the protein had undergone proteolytic degradation. An increase in the use of protease inhibitors during purification eliminated proteolysis, but the intact protein did not crystallize. N-terminal sequencing and mass spectral analysis of dissolved crystals indicated that the protein had degraded to two major species consisting of residues 1-226 and 1-237. Expression of the 1-226 and 1-233 versions of human HO-1 provided active enzyme that crystallizes in a form suitable for diffraction studies. These crystals belong to space group P2(1), with unit cell dimensions a = 79.3 A, b = 56.3 A, c = 112.8 A, and beta = 101.5 degrees.     

人体血红素加氧酶-1的研究进展

血红素加氧酶（heme oxygenase,HO)是哺乳动物中血红素代谢的限速酶,HO－1是HO同功酶之一,主要分布在肝、脾、肺等多种脏器,具有调节和保护功能。作者拟从人体HO－1蛋白的晶体结构、HO－1的功能和HO－1表达的诱导因素,以及HO－1基因的表达与调控等研究进展做一综述。     

Impairment of oxidative stress-induced heme oxygenase-1 expression by the defect of Parkinson-related gene of PINK1

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Mutation in the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) gene causes an autosomal recessive form of PD. However, the etiology related to PINK1 is still not clear. Here, we examined the effect of PINK1 on heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induction in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells following H(2)O(2) or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) treatment. The HO-1 induction in response to H(2)O(2) and MPP(+) treatment was impaired by the expression of recombinant PINK1 G309D mutant. PINK1 G309D mutation increased the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells following H(2)O(2) treatment and cell survival was rescued by the over-expression of HO-1 using adenovirus (Ad) infection. In addition, knockdown of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein-1 (TRAP1), which is the substrate of PINK1 kinase, in SH-SY5Y cells also inhibited the expression of HO-1 in response to oxidative stress. The up-regulation of TRAP1 expression following H(2)O(2) treatment was inhibited by the expression of recombinant PINK1 G309D mutant. The H(2)O(2)-induced HO-1 induction was Akt- and ERK-dependent. The phosphorylation of ERK and Akt but not p38 was inhibited in cells expressing the PINK1 G309D mutant and knockdown of TRAP1. These results indicate a novel pathway by which the defect of PINK1 inhibits the oxidative stress-induced HO-1 production. Impairment of HO-1 production following oxidative stress may accelerate the dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson patients with PINK1 defect.     

内毒素引起的乳鼠心肌细胞血红素加氧酶—1基因的表达

为了探讨在内毒素作用下的乳鼠心肌细胞（neonatal rat cardiomyocytes,NRCMs）血红素加氧酶－1（heme oxygenase-1,HO-1）基因的表达及其在细胞损伤中的作用,分别用10、30及50μg/ml的脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）,10μg/ml LPS 10μmol/ml锌原卟啉Ⅸ（Zn-protoporphyrin-Ⅸ,ZnPPⅨ）和单纯10μmol/ml ZnPPⅨ与培养的NRCMs共同孵育6h,以及10μg/ml LPS与NRCMs共同孵育9h和18h。分别观察细胞HO－1 mRNA表达、MDA含量、LDH释放量与台盼蓝摄取率的变化。结果显示,同样与细胞孵育6h,LPS10μg/ml时HO－1 mRNA表达比对照组增加81.2％,30μg/ml时表达量增加126.3％,50μg/ml时表达量增加92.8％;LPS为10μg/ml时,孵育9h后HO－1 mRNA的表达量比对照组增加93.6％,孵育18h后一增加105.8％。LPS30、50μg/ml,10μg/ml LPS＋10μmol/ml ZnPPⅨ与细胞孵育6h及LPS 10μg/ml孵育18h后,细胞MDA含量、LDH释放量与台盼蓝摄取率明显增加（P＜0.01）;单纯10μg/ml LPS与单纯10μmol/ml ZnPPⅨ孵育6h后,上述指标均无明显升高。结果表明,LPS可诱导NRCMs HO－1 mRNA的表达,且在较低LPS剂量范围内具有时间依赖性和浓度依赖性;NRCMs HO-1 mRNA的表达可减低LPS引起的细胞损伤,这可能是细胞产生的一种自身保护性反应。     

哮喘患者外周血单核细胞血红素氧合酶-1表达水平的研究

目的探讨血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)在哮喘患者外周血单核细胞(PBMC)的表达及与肺通气功能的关系.方法应用免疫组织化学和逆转录聚合酶链反应技术分析18例哮喘患者PBMC的 HO-1蛋白及mRNA水平的表达,测定全血一氧化碳血红蛋白(COHb)的百分比含量、血清总IgE含量、肺通气功能,并与18名健康正常者的结果进行比较.结果哮喘组PBMC中HO-1表达阳性的细胞百分比41.7%±7.44%与正常对照组10.5%±4.36%比较,差异有显著性(P<0.01),哮喘组PBMC HO-1 mRNA表达的平均吸光度值(26.05±4.14)与正常对照组(10.82±4.26)比较,差异亦有显著性(P<0.01),HO-1染色阳性细胞的百分比与FEV1占预计值%、PEFR和MEFR50%均呈显著负相关(r值分别为-0.89,-0.56,-0.51,均P<0.01),与全血COHb的百分比含量及血清总IgE含量呈显著正相关(r值分别为0.80, 0.48, 均P<0.05).HO-1 mRNA的表达水平与1s用力呼气容积(FEV1)占预计值%、顶峰呼气流速(PEFR)和50%肺活量时的最大呼气流速(MEFR50%)均呈显著负相关(r 值分别为-0.89,-0.65,-0.67, 均P<0.01),与全血COHb的百分比含量和血清总IgE含量呈显著正相关(r分别为 0.85和0.62, 均P＜0.01).结论哮喘患者PBMC 的HO-1表达水平显著增加,提示HO-1可能参与了哮喘的发病过程,HO-1表达的变化与哮喘患者的病情程度有一定关系.     

Heme oxygenase-1 protects against apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cycloheximide in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a role in the resistance to apoptosis of several types of cells, but its role in the development of thyroid cancer is unknown. In this study, we investigated the regulation of HO-1 in human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells (KAT5). The results show that HO-1 is significantly induced by hemin and cadmium. In addition to inducing HO-1, hemin and cadmium also cause a rise in the levels of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Cells with increased levels of HO-1 and p21 were more resistant to apoptotic stimuli than cells with normal levels. The cells resistant to apoptosis also displayed an increased arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell-cycle. The induced levels of HO-1 and p21 were significantly reduced by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitors. More importantly, KAT5 cells regained their sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli after they were treated with these kinase inhibitors, indicating that p38 MAPK and ERK are required for the resistance to apoptosis conferred by HO-1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that increased levels of HO-1 and p21 expression are associated with an increase in the activity of NF-kappaB and that inhibiting NF-kappaB leads to a block in the induction of HO-1 and p21. In summary, this study reveals that an increase in the level of HO-1 markedly reduces the sensitivity of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells to apoptotic stimuli. The HO-1 pathway of apoptosis resistance is associated with an increase in the levels of p21, involves a p38 MAPK and ERK-mediated mechanism and can be suppressed by inhibiting NF-kappaB.     

银杏叶提取物对豚鼠哮喘模型血红素氧合酶-1表达的影响

目的探讨银杏叶提取物(Egb761)对豚鼠哮喘模型血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)表达的影响.方法 将30只豚鼠随机分为3组(n=10)(1)正常组;(2)哮喘组;(3)治疗组.测定全血一氧化碳血红蛋白(COHb)的百分比含量、气道阻力并观察气道壁嗜酸性粒细胞(EOS)浸润情况, 用免疫组织化学染色方法观察HO-1在豚鼠肺组织中的表达变化.结果各组气道上皮细胞HO-1阳性表达的平均吸光度分别为 0.170±0.020、0.707±0.058、0.397±0.034.哮喘组HO-1的表达水平显著高于正常组(P<0.01).治疗组HO-1的表达水平显著低于哮喘组(P<0.01). 结论银杏叶提取物能显著抑制哮喘豚鼠气道壁内上皮细胞HO-1的表达,提示银杏叶提取物抑制HO-1的表达可能是银杏叶提取物治疗哮喘的作用机制之一.     

Upstream regulatory elements in chick heme oxygenase-1 promoter: A study in primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells

Previously, chick heme oxygenase-1 (cHO-1) gene was cloned by us and two regions important for induction by sodium arsenite were identified. These two regions were found to contain consensus sequences of an AP-1 (-1580 to -1573) and a MRE/cMyc complex (-52 to -41). In the current study, the roles of these two elements in mediating the sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride dependent induction of cHO-1 were investigated further. DNA binding studies and site-directed mutagenesis studies indicated that both the AP-1 and MRE/cMyc elements are important for the sodium arsenite induction, while cobalt chloride induction involves only the AP-1 element. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that nuclear proteins binding to the AP-1 element was increased by both sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride treatment, whereas the binding of proteins to the MRE/cMyc element showed a high basal expression in untreated cells and the binding activity was only slightly increased by sodium arsenite treatment. Site-directed mutagenesis studies showed that, to completely abolish sodium arsenite induction, both the AP-1 and MRE/cMyc elements must be mutated; mutation of either element alone resulted in only a partial effect. In contrast, a single mutation at AP-1 element was sufficient to reduce the cobalt chloride induction almost completely. The MRE/cMyc complex plays a major role in the basal level expression, and shares some similarities to the upstream stimulatory factor element (USF) identified in the promoter regions of mammalian HO-1 genes and other stress regulated genes. Because sodium arsenite is known to cause oxidative stress and because activation of AP-1 proteins has been shown to be a key step in the oxidative stress response pathway, we also explored the possibility that the induction of the cHO-1 gene by sodium arsenite is mediated through oxidative stress pathway(s) by activation of AP-1 proteins. We found that pretreatment with antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine or quercetin) reduced the induction of the endogenous cHO-1 message or cHO-1 reporter construct activities induced by sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride. These antioxidants also reduced the protein binding activities to the AP-1 element in the electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In summary, induction of the cHO-1 gene by sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride is mediated by activation of the AP-1 element located at -1,573 to -1,580 of the 5 UTR.     

Postischemic cardiac recovery in heme oxygenase‐1 transgenic ischemic/reperfused mouse myocardium

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) transgenic mice (Tg) were created using a rat HO-1 genomic transgene. Transgene expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blots in the left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV) and septum (S) in mouse hearts, and its function was demonstrated by the elevated HO enzyme activity. Tg and non-transgenic (NTg) mouse hearts were isolated and subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Significant post-ischemic recovery in coronary flow (CF), aortic flow (AF), aortic pressure (AOP) and first derivative of AOP (AOPdp/dt) were detected in the HO-1 Tg group compared to the NTg values. In HO-1 Tg hearts treated with 50 μmol/kg of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX), an HO enzyme inhibitor, abolished the post-ischemic cardiac recovery. HO-1 related carbon monoxide (CO) production was detected in NTg, HO-1 Tg and HO-1 Tg + SnPPIX treated groups, and a substantial increase in CO production was observed in the HO-1 Tg hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Moreover, in ischemia/reperfusion-induced tissue Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ gains were reduced in HO-1 Tg group in comparison with the NTg and HO-1 Tg + SnPPIX treated groups; furthermore K⁺ loss was reduced in the HO-1 Tg group. The infarct size was markedly reduced from its NTg control value of 37 ± 4% to 20 ± 6% (P < 0.05) in the HO-1 Tg group, and was increased to 47 ± 5% (P < 0.05) in the HO-1 knockout (KO) hearts. Parallel to the infarct size reduction, the incidence of total and sustained ventricular fibrillation were also reduced from their NTg control values of 92% and 83% to 25% (P < 0.05) and 8% (P < 0.05) in the HO-1 Tg group, and were increased to 100% and 100% in HO-1 KO^−/− hearts. Immunohistochemical staining of HO-1 was intensified in HO-1 Tg compared to the NTg myocardium. Thus, the HO-1 Tg mouse model suggests a valuable therapeutic approach in the treatment of ischemic myocardium.     

脂多糖诱导大鼠主动脉血红素氧合酶-1表达及其对血管反应性的影响

目的：探讨血红素－HO－1－CO－cGMP道路对内毒素血症大鼠主动脉血管张力的影响及其分子机制。方法：用离体血管环张力测定技术,观察静脉注射脂多糖（LPS）6h,大鼠胸主动脉环（TARs)对苯肾上腺素（PE）累积收缩反应。分别用一氧化碳（CO）供体正缺血红素（He),血红素氧合酶－1（HO－1）抑制剂锌原卟啉（ZnPP-IX),鸟苷酸环化酶（sGC)抑制剂亚甲兰（MB）预卵育后,测定TARs对PE收缩反应的变化。分别测定主动脉中CO含量,HO－1活性,Western blot测定HO－1蛋白含量,RT－PCR检测HO－1 mRNA表达的改变。结果：LPS组TARs对PE累积收缩反应明显降低,ZnPP-IX可部分逆转低收缩反应,MB可完全逆转低收缩反应,而用He可加重低收缩反应状态;LPS组动脉组织中CO的含量上升,HO－1活性、蛋白表达量和mRNA表达均明显增加。结论：LPS可使主动脉HO－1基因表达上调,蛋白含量及酶活性明显增加,表明启动血红素－HO－1－CO－cGMP通路,是介导ES大鼠主动脉低收缩反应重要机制之一。     

血红素氧合酶-1/一氧化碳通路参与辛伐他汀抗高血压诱发的大鼠心肌肥厚

为了探讨他汀类药物抑制心肌肥厚的作用机制,本研究应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂左旋硝基精氨酸[N-nitro-L-arginine, L-NNA,15 mg／(kg·d)]制备大鼠高血压心肌肥厚模型,并分别给予不同剂量辛伐他汀[5或30 mg／(kg·d)进行干预。6周后测大鼠左心室功能、左心室重量指数(left ventricular mass index,LVMI)、心肌脑钠素(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)含量、心肌羟脯氨酸含量和心肌血红素氧合酶(heme oxygenase,HO)活性。在体外培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞中,观察辛伐他汀对血管紧张素Ⅱ(angiotensin Ⅱ,Ang Ⅱ)引起的心肌细胞肥大的抑制作用与细胞血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)表达、HO活性及CO生成间的关系。结果表明,辛伐他汀干预明显减轻L-NNA处理大鼠的心肌肥厚(LVMI值、心肌BNP和羟脯氨酸含量均显著低于单纯L-NNA处理组),改善左心室舒张功能,而且心肌HO活性显著升高。在离体培养的原代乳鼠心肌细胞,辛伐他汀浓度依赖性地抑制Ang Ⅱ引起的细胞肥大(3H-亮氨酸掺入),并相应增加HO-1 mRNA表达、HO活性和CO生成量。应用HO抑制剂锌卟啉能有效抑制辛伐他汀抗Ang Ⅱ诱导的心肌肥大作用。结果提示:辛伐他汀上调HO-1／CO通路是其抗高血压诱发的心肌肥厚的机制之一。     

Coordinated expression of heme oxygenase-1 and ubiquitin in the porcine heart subjected to ischemia and reperfusion

Heme oxygenase (HO) isozymes, HO-1 and HO-2 catalyze the cleavage of heme b to form the antioxidant biliverdin IXa, iron and the putative cellular messenger carbon monoxide (CO). Heat and stress have been reported to induce the expression of HO-1, in analogy to ubiquitin, a protein of 8 kDa involved in ATP dependent proteolysis. Earlier, we have shown in anesthetized pigs that brief periods of coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion produce prolonged regional cardiac dysfunction (stunning) associated with altered expression of a number of genes. In the present study, we report on a coordinated expression pattern of HO-1 and ubiquitin in the same porcine model in which the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded for 10 min and reperfused for 30 min (group I) and after a second occlusion of 10 min, reperfused for either 30 min (group II) or 90 min (group 111) or 210 min (group IV). Myocardial tissue from LAD (stunned) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCx, control) perfused regions were collected in liquid nitrogen and analysed by Northern and dot blot hybridization techniques. We demonstrated a basal myocardial expression of multiple mRNAs (monomer and polymers) encoding ubiquitin and a single mRNA species (1.8 kb) encoding HO-1. However, the expression of both genes was drastically enhanced in the stunned myocardium as compared to the control in groups II and III with maximum mRNAs levels in group II. These results suggest that the myocardial adaptive response to ischemia involves the coordinated induction of HO-1 and ubiquitin, which may be indicative for the existence of a pathophysiologically important defense mechanism whereby, both degradation of denatured cellular proteins and generation of biologically active products of heme metabolism are accelerated.     

Enhanced expression and localization of heme oxygenase-1 during recovery phase of porcine stunned myocardium

Myocardial adaptation to ischemia involves up-regulated expression of a number of genes implicated in conferring cytoprotection. We have previously shown that myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to a co-ordinated expression of mRNAs encoding heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and ubiquitin in pigs. HO-1 participates in biological reaction leading to the formation of the antioxidant, bilirubin and the putative cellular messenger, carbon monoxide. In the present study, we examined the expression and cellular localization of HO-1 in the heart during myocardial stunning in anesthetized pigs. After thoracotomy, the LAD was occluded for 10 min and reperfused for 30 min (group I, n = 4), again occluded for 10 min and reperfused for 30 min (group II, n = 6), 90 min (group III, n = 4), 210 min (group IV, n = 5) and for 390 min (group V, n = 4). Myocardial tissue specimens were collected in 10% formalin as well as in liquid nitrogen and processed for immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression analysis, respectively. In the distribution territory of the LAD (experimental, E), systolic wall thickening was significantly decreased (39 ± 6%) as compared to that of the area perfused by left circumflex coronary artery (LCx, control) in group I and remained depressed in all subsequent groups. Northern blot analysis revealed that the expression of a single mRNA species of 1.8 kb encoding HO-1 was significantly induced in E as compared to control in groups II and III with maximum mRNA levels in group II (1.9 ± 0.4 fold vs. control). Immunoreactive HO-1 was localized in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes as well as in the perivascular regions in all groups. Semiquantitative analysis of HO-1 staining showed significantly enhanced levels of HO-1 in perivascular region in E as compared to respective controls derived from groups III and IV. These results suggest that myocardial adaptive response to ischemia involves up-regulation of HO-1 in cells of perivascular region indicating that this enzyme may participate in regulating vascular tone via CO and thereby, contributing in pathophysiologically important defense mechanism(s) in the heart.     

Carbon monoxide and bilirubin from heme oxygenase-1 suppresses reactive oxygen species generation and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 induction

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) responds to a variety of oxidative stresses. We examined whether HO-1 expression influences pro-thrombotic processes, in which the involvement of oxidative stress has been reported. Since HO-1 knockout mice with a C57/BL6J background were not viable, embryonic cells from HO-1 deficient mice (E11.5) were used. Cell viability, the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation of HO-1 deficient cells in response to the exposures to hydrogen peroxide and oxidized LDL were compared to those with wild-type cells. We also examined the effects of glutathione (GSH), desferrioxamine (DFO) and diphenyleneiodonium (DPI: an NADPH oxidase inhibitor) as well as of the HO reaction products, bilirubin (BR) and carbon monoxide (CO) on PAI-1 expression and ROS generation. PAI-1 expression and ROS generation were markedly elevated in HO-1 deficient cells compared to wild-type cells. Exposure to oxidized LDL significantly elevated PAI-1 expression and ROS production in HO-1 deficient cells. Interestingly, these increases in HO-1 deficient cells were significantly lowered by BR, CO, GSH and DPI while DFO had little effect. Furthermore, BR and CO were effective to improve viabilities of HO-1 deficient cells. These results suggest that HO-1 may be required to suppress ROS generation and the production of pro-thrombotic molecules such as PAI-1.     

Influence of antioxidants on NO-dependent induction of heme oxygenase-1 in U937 monocytes

Thiol antioxidants are known to inhibit the nitric oxide-dependent induction of the hemoxygenase-1 gene (HOX-1). To estimate the degree to which the inhibitory effect of thiol antioxidants is accounted for by them scavenging oxidized NO derivatives or their precursors, the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), we studied the inhibitory effect of nonthiol antioxidants: dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylthiourea, sodium salicylate, sodium formate, uric acid, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Partial inhibition of NO-dependent HOX-1 induction was observed in the presence of the nonpolar HO scavengers dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylthiourea. The antioxidants which selectively bind other ROS had no effect on HOX-1 expression. To reveal the role of RNS in NO-dependent HOX-1 induction, cells were treated with the NO-generating compound DPTA-NO in the presence of 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5,-tetramethylimidazole-1-oxyl 3 oxide (PTIO), which oxidizes NO to NO₂. PTIO proved to significantly enhance NO-dependent HOX-1 induction. Thiol antioxidants completely inhibited the stimulating effect of PTIO, which is evidence that their inhibitory effect is explained by RNS scavenging. The results of this study indicate that antioxidants can be used to modulate the cell response to NO.Translated from Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2005, pp. 89–95.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Litvinov, Prasolov, Bouton, Drapier, Turpaev.