Translational Significance of Heme Oxygenase in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Authors

Nader G. Abraham, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, New York Medical College, School of Medicine, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA; Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25701, USA. Electronic address: nader_abraham@nymc.edu.Follow
Joshua M. Junge, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, New York Medical College, School of Medicine, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
George S. Drummond, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, New York Medical College, School of Medicine, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1016/j.tips.2015.09.003

Journal Title

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

First Page

17

Last Page

36

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

The global epidemic of obesity continues unabated with sequelae of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This review reflects the dramatic increase in research on the role of increased expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1/HO-2, biliverdin reductase, and HO activity on vascular disease. The HO system engages with other systems to mitigate the deleterious effects of oxidative stress in obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent reports indicate that HO-1/HO-2 protein expression and HO activity have several important roles in hemostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent perturbations associated with metabolic syndrome. HO-1 protects tissue during inflammatory stress in obesity through the degradation of pro-oxidant heme and the production of carbon monoxide (CO) and bilirubin, both of which have anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. By contrast, repression of HO-1 is associated with increases of cellular heme and inflammatory conditions including hypertension, stroke, and atherosclerosis. HO-1 is a major focus in the development of potential therapeutic strategies to reverse the clinical complications of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Recommended Citation

Abraham, N. G., Junge, J. M., & Drummond, G. S. (2016). Translational Significance of Heme Oxygenase in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 37 (1), 17-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2015.09.003