Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) upregulation delays morphological and oxidative damage induced in an excitotoxic/pro-oxidant model in the rat striatum.

Quinolinic acid (QA)-induced overactivation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors yields excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which altogether contribute to trigger a wide variety of toxic pathways with biochemical, behavioral and neuropathological alterations similar to those observed in Huntington's disease. Noteworthy, in the brains of these patients, increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels can be found. It has been proposed that this enzyme can exert a dual role, as it can be either protective or deleterious to the CNS. While some evidence indicates that its overexpression affords cellular anti-oxidant protection due to decreased concentrations of its pro-oxidative substrate heme group, and increased bilirubin levels, other reports established that high HO-1 expression and activity may result in a pro-oxidizing atmosphere due to a release of Fe(2+). In this work, we examined the temporal evolution of oxidative damage to proteins, HO-1 expression, immunoreactivity, total activity, and cell death after 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of an intrastriatal QA infusion (240 nmol/µl). QA was found to induce cellular degeneration, increasing carbonylated proteins and generating a transitory response in HO-1 mRNA, protein content, and immunoreactivity and activity in nerve cells. In order to study the role of HO-1 in the QA-induced cellular death, the tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a well-known HO inhibitor, was administered to rats (30 µmol/kg, i.p.). The administration of SnPP to animals treated with QA inhibited the HO activation, and exacerbated the striatal cell damage induced by QA. Our findings reveal a potential modulatory role of HO-1 in the toxic paradigm evoked by QA in rats. This evidence provides a valuable tool for further approaches on HO-1 regulation in neurotoxic paradigms.

Effect of glycolysis inhibition on mitochondrial function in rat brain.

Inhibition of the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase enhances the neural vulnerability to excitotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro through an unknown mechanism possibly related to mitochondrial failure. However, as the effect of glycolysis inhibition on mitochondrial function in brain has not been studied, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of glycolysis inhibition induced by iodoacetate on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in brain. Mitochondria were isolated from brain cortex, striatum and cerebellum of rats treated systemically with iodoacetate (25 mg/kg/day for 3 days). Oxygen consumption, ATP synthesis, transmembrane potential, reactive oxygen species production, lipoperoxidation, glutathione levels, and aconitase activity were assessed. Oxygen consumption and aconitase activity decreased in the brain cortex and striatum, showing that glycolysis inhibition did not trigger severe mitochondrial impairment, but a slight mitochondrial malfunction and oxidative stress were present.

Papel de la hemooxigenasa-1 en las enfermedades neurodegenerativas / Role of hemeoxygenase-1 in the neurodegenerative disorders

Objetivo. Revisar evidencias de la participación de la hemooxigenasa-1 (HO-1) en enfermedades neurodegenerativas. Desarrollo. La HO cataliza la degradación del grupo hemo a monóxido de carbono, hierro y biliverdina. Se han caracterizado ampliamente dos isoformas de la HO: una inducible (HO-1) y una constitutiva (HO-2). Como la expresión de HO-1 confiere citoprotección en varias líneas celulares y en modelos animales bajo estrés oxidativo, se considera que la activación del gen de HO-1 es un mecanismo de defensa celular. En estudios post mortem en cerebro se ha encontrado un incremento en la expresión de la HO-1 en pacientes con enfermedades de Alzheimer, Parkinson y Huntington. Aunque no se han determinado la causa y el significado de este aumento, existen evidencias de que la sobreexpresión de la HO-1 contribuye a la acumulación de hierro en la mitocondria, lo que sugeriría que la expresión de la HO-1 tiene un efecto citotóxico. En contraste, hay evidencias de que la sobreexpresión de la HO-1 disminuye la muerte celular en ratones transgénicos y cultivos neuronales expuestos a compuestos neurotóxicos, lo que sugeriría que esta enzima tiene un papel citoprotector. Conclusión. Existe controversia sobre si la expresión de la HO-1 durante enfermedades neurodegenerativas confiere citoprotección o, por el contrario, promueve la neurodegeneración. Por tanto, es necesario continuar el estudio del papel de la HO-1 en modelos de daño neuronal

Aim. To review some evidences about the role of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) in neurodegenerative disorders. Development. HO is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and free iron. They are the inducible HO-1 and the constitutive HO-2. A large body of evidence suggests that HO-1 confers cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Postmortem studies conducted in humans have revealed increase in HO-1 protein in association with Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and Huntington disease. It is unknown the meaning of that increase. Nevertheless, there are evidences indicating that the overexpression of HO-1 contributes to the pathological iron deposition suggesting a detrimental role of HO-1. In contrast, there are evidences indicating that the overexpression of HO-1 decreases the neurotoxin-induced cell death in transgenic mice and neuronal cultures suggesting a cytoprotective role of HO-1. Conclusion. It is controversial if the overexpression of HO-1 has a detrimental or cytoprotective role. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the study about the role of the HO-1 in neurodegenerative diseases

[Role of hemeoxygenase-1 in the neurodegenerative disorders]. / Papel de la hemooxigenasa-1 en las enfermedades neurodegenerativas.

AIM: To review some evidences about the role of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) in neurodegenerative disorders. DEVELOPMENT: HO is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and free iron. They are the inducible HO-1 and the constitutive HO-2. A large body of evidence suggests that HO-1 confers cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Postmortem studies conducted in humans have revealed increase in HO-1 protein in association with Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and Huntington disease. It is unknown the meaning of that increase. Nevertheless, there are evidences indicating that the overexpression of HO-1 contributes to the pathological iron deposition suggesting a detrimental role of HO-1. In contrast, there are evidences indicating that the overexpression of HO-1 decreases the neurotoxin-induced cell death in transgenic mice and neuronal cultures suggesting a cytoprotective role of HO-1. CONCLUSION: It is controversial if the overexpression of HO-1 has a detrimental or cytoprotective role. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the study about the role of the HO-1 in neurodegenerative diseases.