Redoxmechanisms of the beneficial effects of heme oxygenase in hypertension

Abstract

Heme oxygenases, namely heme oxygenase-1 and heme oxygenase-2, have important biological functions in vascular homeostasis. Heme oxygenase and its catabolic products, including bilirubin and carbon monoxide, have been implicated in blood pressure regulation. Increased expression of heme oxygenase exerts multiple protective actions against hypertension-induced vascular injuries. However, the underlining mechanisms of these effects are not entirely clear. We and others have demonstrated that heme oxygenase-1 can modulate production of reactive oxygen species, both in vivo and in vitro, from NADPH oxidase, a major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species generation in the vascular wall. NADP..