[Role of hemeoxygenase-1 in the neurodegenerative disorders].

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.