earticle

영어

Heme oxygenase is a regulatory enzyme that cleaves heme ring to form biliverdin, which is rapidly converted to bilirubin, carbon monoxide, and iron. Among three isoforms of heme oxygenase family members, heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is the most constitutively, abundantly, and fairly ubiquitously expressed in the neural tissues.1,2) However, the function of HO-2 in central nervous system remains largely unexplored. In this study, we have provided new
evidence supporting neuroprotective role of HO-2 against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced oxidative stress. Intranigral injection of 6-OHDA increased substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic (DA) neuronal damage. In contrast, co- or post-administration of HO-2 protein with 6-OHDA significantly reversed 6-OHDA-induced toxicity. These results indicate that HO-2 may play an
important protective role in oxidative stress-induced injury. [This study was supported by SRC/ERC program of MOST/KOSEF (RCPM of Chosun University (R11-2000-083-02006-0)].