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PubMed2003

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in Barrett's oesophageal carcinogenesis: an immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Barrett's oesophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing more rapidly than any other malignancy in industrialized countries. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 appears to play an important role in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Previous studies on cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in Barrett's oesophageal carcinogenesis have utilized tissue samples obtained from different patients. We sought a definitive comparison of cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in the sequence of Barrett's metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma within the same patients. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded oesophago-gastrectomy specimens from 20 patients, containing successive stages of Barrett's metaplasia, high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, were analysed for cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 was constitutively expressed in the basal layers of cells in the adjacent normal squamous oesophageal epithelium, but a higher cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression was observed in Barrett's metaplasia. A further increase in cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression was detected in high-grade dysplasia, but cyclo-oxygenase-2 was decreased in adenocarcinoma tissue, regardless of its stage or level of differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression is progressively increased when squamous oesophageal epithelium develops into Barrett's metaplastic epithelium and then into high-grade dysplasia, but appears to decrease when adenocarcinoma develops. These findings may be significant for an effective chemo-prevention strategy with selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

Effects of phenylarsine oxide on expression of heme oxygenase-1 reporter constructs in transiently transfected cultures of chick embryo liver cells.

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the first and rate-controlling step of heme catabolism. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 can be caused by numerous factors, including heme, other metalloporphyrins, transition metal ions, heat shock, ultraviolet light, phorbol esters, sodium arsenite, and phenylarsine oxide (PAO). Induction of this enzyme may protect cells from oxidative damage. Using heme oxygenase-1 promoter/reporter gene constructs, we have previously reported that the sodium arsenite-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 in chick embryo liver cells and chicken hepatoma (LMH) cells involves an AP-1 element. We have now investigated whether the PAO-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 also involves an AP-1 element. Primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells were transiently transfected with heme oxygenase-1 promoter/reporter gene constructs, treated with PAO, and reporter gene activities were measured. We found that the PAO-mediated increase in reporter gene activity was dose- and time-dependent. This activity was decreased by prior treatment with N-acetylcysteine. Studies with mutated constructs showed that both an AP-1 element and a metal responsive element are involved in the PAO-mediated induction of the heme oxygenase-1 reporter construct. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that nuclear proteins from PAO-treated cells had increased binding to an AP-1 probe, and that this increase was abrogated by N-acetylcysteine. These findings support the hypothesis that the PAO-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 is caused by activation of AP-1 and MRE/cMyc elements and may involve nuclear proteins whose states of phosphorylation determine binding to regulatory elements, and thus the level of expression of heme oxygenase-1.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1989

Role of heme oxygenase in heme-mediated inhibition of rat brain Na+-K+-ATPase: protection by tin-protoporphyrin.

Hemoglobin has been shown to inhibit brain Na+-K+-ATPase through an iron-dependent mechanism. Both hemoglobin and iron cause spontaneous peroxidation of brain lipids. Release of iron from the heme molecule in animal tissues is dependent on the activity of heme oxygenase. We hypothesized that inhibition of heme catabolism by heme oxygenase prevents the iron-mediated inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase and might subsequently reduce the tissue damage. Therefore, we studied the effect of heme and tin-protoporphyrin, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase, on the activity of partially purified Na+-K+-ATPase from rat brain in the presence and absence of purified hepatic heme oxygenase. Heme alone at a concentration of 30 microM did not inhibit Na+-K+-ATPase. However, in the presence of heme oxygenase, heme inhibited Na+-K+-ATPase by 75%. Pretreatment of rats with SnCl2, a known inducer of heme oxygenase, reduced the basal activity of the brain Na+-K+-ATPase by 50%. Inhibition of heme oxygenase by tin-protoporphyrin (30 microM) prevented the inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase which occurred in the presence of heme and heme oxygenase. It is concluded that suppression of heme oxygenase by tin-protoporphyrin might be a therapeutic approach to management of hemoglobin-associated brain injury following CNS hemorrhage.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Resolution of the rat brain heme oxygenase activity: absence of a detectable amount of the inducible form (HO-1).

In the present study we report on the detection of a distinct pattern of heme oxygenase isoform composition in the rat brain. In this organ only the noninducible form of heme oxygenase, HO-2, could be clearly detected. This pattern of composition distinguishes the brain from other organs tested to date, namely the liver, testis, and spleen. The rat brain microsomal fraction displayed a rather impressive rate of heme oxygenase activity. This fraction also exhibited a rate of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity that was sufficient to fully support the oxygenase activity. The brain microsomal fraction was solubilized and subjected to ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel. The chromatographic elution pattern of heme oxygenase activity was compared with those of the liver and testis. In the brain only one peak of heme oxygenase activity was detected. The peak exhibited an elution profile similar to that of HO-2 of the liver and the testis. The presence of an activity peak was not detected in the elution profile at the region where the inducible isoform of heme oxygenase, HO-1, was expected. Cross-reactivity was observed between the solubilized brain microsomal fraction and antiserum to the testis HO-2 when subjected to Ouchterlony double diffusion immunoanalysis. A reaction was not observed when antiserum to liver HO-1 was employed. The presence of HO-2 in the brain microsomal preparation was also established by Western immunoblotting analysis. A protein having a mobility that was identical to the purified testicular HO-2 (Mr 36,000) was present in the brain microsomal preparation when probed with antiserum to HO-2. However, our attempts to demonstrate the presence of HO-1 in the brain microsomal preparation by a similar technique, but using antiserum to HO-1, were not successful. It is proposed that HO-2 is responsible for the bulk, if not all, of the brain microsomal heme oxygenase activity. It is further proposed that tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms are responsible for both the refractory response of the brain heme oxygenase to known metallic inducers and the absence of a detectable amount of the HO-1 isoform.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Characterization of heme oxygenase activity in Leydig and Sertoli cells of the rat testes. Differential distribution of activity and response to cadmium.

Leydig and Sertoli cells of the rat testes differ with respect to the activities of the enzymes of the heme and hemoprotein degradative pathway and in their responses to Cd2+ treatment. The microsomal heme oxygenase activity in the Leydig cell preparations was nearly 9- to 10-fold greater than in Sertoli cell preparations, but the characteristics of the enzyme appeared to be similar in both cell populations, as judged by the cofactor requirements and the inhibitory action of heme ligands. Differences between the two cell preparations also were detected in the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase and in the contents of cytochrome P-450 and heme, with Leydig cells possessing the higher values. The activities of the cytosolic biliverdin reductase were comparable in both cell preparations. The significantly higher levels of porphyrins and the activities of delta- aminoleuvinate synthetase and uroporphyrinogen-I synthetase suggest that Leydig cells constitute the primary site of heme and hemoprotein biosynthetic activities. The mode of regulation of heme oxygenase activity in the testes and in the liver was compared. The responses of heme oxygenase to Cd2+ treatment (20 mumoles/kg, 24 hr) in the two testicular cell populations were dissimilar and both differed from that of the liver. In Leydig cells, heme oxygenase activity was decreased dramatically, whereas in the liver the activity was greatly increased. Heme oxygenase activity in Sertoli cells was refractory to Cd2+. The Cd2+-mediated decrease in heme oxygenase activity in Leydig cells did not reflect a direct inhibitory action of Cd2+ on the enzyme or a decreased total content of the microsomal protein. The dissimilarity between the mode of regulation of heme metabolic activities in the testes, when determined in Leydig cells, and that in the liver involved the inability of bromobenzene to evoke an increase in heme oxygenase activity and the age-related changes in the activities of heme oxygenase and delta- aminoleuvinate synthetase. In contrast to heme oxygenase activity, the heme concentration in Sertoli cells was remarkably sensitive to Cd2+ treatment, where a 7-fold increase in heme concentration was observed. The same treatment caused only a 2-fold increase in heme concentration in Leydig cells. In the latter cells, however, the increase in heme concentration was accompanied by a marked reduction in cytochrome P-450 levels. The cytochrome could not be measured in Sertoli cell preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMed2000

Transcriptional activation of heme oxygenase-1 and its functional significance in acetaminophen-induced hepatitis and hepatocellular injury in the rat.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Glutathione depletion contributes to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity and is known to induce the oxidative stress reactant heme oxygenase-1. The metabolites of the heme oxygenase pathway, biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron may modulate acetaminophen toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess cell-type specific expression of heme oxygenase-1 and its impact on liver injury and microcirculatory disturbances in a model of acetaminophen-induced hepatitis. METHODS: Gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 was studied by Northern- and Western analysis as well as immunohistochemistry. The time course of heme oxygenase-1 and -2, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was studied by Northern analysis. DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Sinusoidal perfusion and leukocyte-endothelial interactions were assessed by intravital microscopy. RESULTS: Acetaminophen caused a moderate sinusoidal perfusion failure (-15%) and infiltration of neutrophils along with activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 mRNAs. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA and protein (approximately 30-fold) in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells paralleled the inflammatory response. Blockade of heme oxygenase activity with tin-protoporphyrin-IX abrogated acetaminophen-induced hepatic neutrophil accumulation and nuclear factor-kappaB activation, but failed to affect sinusoidal perfusion and liver injury. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory response associated with acetaminophen hepatotoxicity is modulated by the parallel induction of the heme oxygenase-1 gene. However, heme oxygenase-1 has no permissive effect on sinusoidal perfusion and does not affect liver injury in this model. These data argue against a central role of nuclear factor-kappaB activation and neutrophil infiltration as perpetuating factors of liver injury in acetaminophen toxicity.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed1979

Manganese and zinc blockade of enzyme induction: studies with microsomal heme oxygenase.

Heme oxygenase (decyclizing) [heme,hydrogen-donor:oxygen oxidoreductase (alpha-methene-oxidizing, hydroxylating), EC 1.14.99.3] is greatly induced in the kidney by the administration of nickel or tin. Manganese, when administered simultaneously with nickel or tin in an equimolar amount, substantially inhibited the induction of heme oxygenase. The extent of inhibition was 80% and 98%, respectively. In rats pretreated up to 8 hr with manganese, the level of induction of heme oxygenase by nickel or tin was markedly reduced in a time-dependent fashion. Manganese treatment after the inducing metal was relatively ineffective in preventing the induction of heme oxygenase. Manganese in vitro did not inhibit heme oxygenase in the microsomes isolated from either control or tin-induced rats and in vivo did not increase the rate of catabolism of the induced enzyme. Magnesium was unable to block nickel or tin induction of heme oxygenase. Zinc in equimolar amounts could also substantially reduce the extent of induction of renal heme oxygenase when administered simultaneously with nickel or tin. In addition, simultaneous zinc administration blocked to a considerable extent the induction of hepatic heme oxygenase by nickel, cobalt, or cadmium. These findings indicate the existence of metal-metal interactions that can greatly influence the regulatory mechanism for the induced synthesis of heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Metal ion-mediated regulation of heme oxygenase induction in cultured avian liver cells.

The induction of heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) in response to various metal treatments was investigated in monolayer cultures of chick embryo liver cells maintained in a chemically defined serum-free medium. The most potent heme oxygenase-inducing action was exhibited by CO2+, Cd2+, Sb3+, As3+, and Au1+ followed by lesser induction observed with Cu2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+. Mn2+, Ni2+, Se4+, Sn2+, and Zn2+ were without effect. In contrast to the marked inducing effect of Co2+ on heme oxygenase, Co-protoporphyrin IX decreased the enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of Zn2+ (20 microM) to Co2+-treated liver cell cultures revealed a striking ability of Zn2+ to block completely Co2+-induced heme oxygenase. Simultaneous addition of Mn2+ (50 microM) to Co2+-treated cells also blocked Co2+-induced heme oxygenase (approximately 50%). These findings in tissue culture confirm those made earlier in whole animals (Drummond, G. S., and Kappas, A. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 76, 5331-5335) and indicate that these effects of Zn2+ and Mn2+ are exerted directly in liver cells. Addition of cysteine (400 microM) to the cultures also inhibited heme oxygenase induction by Co2+ substantially. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D blocked the induction of heme oxygenase, indicating that increased heme oxygenase activity by metal treatment is dependent on fresh RNA and protein synthesis. The half-life of the enzyme was calculated to be approximately 15 h after treatment with cycloheximide. These findings provide further evidence that metal ions can regulate heme oxygenase synthesis directly in isolated liver cells and that the metal-metal interactions which lead to blockade of the enzyme induction do not involve extrahepatic tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Co-regulation of heme oxygenase and erythropoietin genes.

The mechanism responsible for the accumulation of heme oxygenase and erythropoietin (epo) transcripts due to cobalt chloride (CoCl2) administration was investigated in rat kidney using a rat heme oxygenase and mouse epo probes. We found an increase of heme oxygenase transcripts in kidney in response to CoCl2. Quantitative evaluation of the heme oxygenase mRNA changes, by scanning densitometry, indicated that the levels of mRNA encoding heme oxygenase were increased by about fiftyfold in rat kidney after administration of CoCl2. That the increase in heme oxygenase mRNA levels resulted from enhanced transcription of the heme oxygenase gene was confirmed by nuclear runoff using isolated rat kidney nuclei after CoCl2 administration. Transcription of the heme oxygenase gene is greatly increased in rat kidney within 1 hr of administration of CoCl2 as evidenced from the levels of 32P-UTP incorporation into the specific transcript. Time course studies showed that stimulation of transcription was increased about fortyfold 3 hr after CoCl2 administration. This stimulation is the most rapid transcriptional response to heavy metals yet described. In addition, Northern blot analysis demonstrated that epo mRNA was first detected 4 hr following CoCl2 administration and reached a maximum at 5 hr. On the other hand, PCR analysis indicated that epo mRNA was increased as early as 1 hr following CoCl2 administration. The fact that CoCl2 caused increased transcription of both the epo and heme oxygenase genes suggests that a common mechanism may be involved in the regulation of these two genes by the heavy metal ion.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Heme oxygenase induction by CoCl2, Co-protoporphyrin IX, phenylhydrazine, and diamide: evidence for oxidative stress involvement.

The induction of heme oxygenase in rat liver by cobaltous chloride (CoCl2) and Co-protoporphyrin IX is entirely prevented by the administration of alpha-tocopherol and allopurinol. CoCl2 was converted in the liver into Co-protoporphyrin IX before it induced heme oxygenase activity. Actinomycin and cycloheximide affected to a similar degree the induction of heme oxygenase by both CoCl2 and Co-protoporphyrin IX. Administration of either CoCl2 or Co-protoporphyrin strongly decreased the intrahepatic GSH pool, a decrease which was completely prevented by the administration of either alpha-tocopherol or allopurinol. The latter compounds prevented heme oxygenase induction as well as the decrease in hepatic GSH when administered 2 h before, together with, or 2 h after CoCl2. However, when given 5 h after administration of CoCl2, alpha-tocopherol and allopurinol showed no preventive effect. Similar results were obtained when Co-protoporphyrin IX was used, with the difference that when alpha-tocopherol and allopurinol were given 2 h after administration of the inducer, they showed no protective effect. Phenylhydrazine and diamide also induced heme oxygenase activity in rat liver. This inductive effect was preceded by a decrease in the intrahepatic GSH pool, which took place several hours before induction of the oxygenase. Administration of alpha-tocopherol and allopurinol prevented induction of the oxygenase but had no effect on the decrease in GSH levels. These results suggest that the induction of heme oxygenase by phenylhydrazine and the diamide is preceded by an oxidative stress which very likely originates in the depletion of GSH. The induction of heme oxygenase by hemin was not prevented by administration of alpha-tocopherol or allopurinol. Coprotoporphyrin IX did not affect the pattern of the molecular forms of hepatic biliverdin reductase, at variance with CoCl2, which is known to convert molecular form 1 of the enzyme into molecular form 3.

Allopurinol↗

PubMed1986

The regulation of porphobilinogen oxygenase and porphobilinogen deaminase activities in rat bone marrow under conditions of erythropoietic stress.

Porphorbilinogen oxygenase (EC 4.2.1.24) was associated with the microsomal fraction of bone marrow in normal rats and in rats submitted to erythropoietic stress, while porphobilinogen deaminase (EC 4.3.1.8) of the same origin was present in the cytosol. An NADPH-dependent electron-donor system for the oxygenase was also present in the microsomes of the bone marrow. Under conditions of erythropoietic stress caused by hypoxia, the activities of both enzymes were found to be inversely correlated. While the oxygenase showed minimum activity between the 4th and 8th day of hypoxia, porphobilinogen deaminase reached its maximum activity during this period. After the 8th day of hypoxia, oxygenase activity increased while deaminase activity decreased. The NADPH-dependent electron-transport system necessary for the microsomal oxygenase activity was largely inactivated after the 10th day of hypoxia, while oxygenase activity was not affected. The particulate porphobilinogen oxygenase could be solubilized from the bone marrow microsomes with 1% deoxycholate or 0.5 M KCl. In addition, the oxygenase was also released by freezing and thawing the microsomes isolated from bone marrow of rats which had been submitted to an erythropoietic stress (hypoxia or phenylhydrazine). The enzyme solubilized with deoxycholate or KCl showed a high molecular weight form and a low molecular weight form (Mr 25 000). The former could be transformed into the latter either by treatment with 2 M KCl or by succinylation. When the oxygenase was solubilized by freezing and thawing a third molecular weight form (Mr 50 000) also appeared. The solubilized enzyme could be succinylated without loss of its catalytic activity, while the membrane-bound enzyme could not be succinylated.

Ammonia-Lyases↗

PubMed1981

Induction of porphobilinogen oxygenase and porphobilinogen deaminase in rat blood under conditions of erythropoietic stress.

Porphobilinogen is the substrate of two enzymes: porphobilinogen deaminase and porphobilinogen-oxygenase. The first one transforms it into the metabolic precursors of heme and the second diverts it from this metabolic pathway by oxidizing porphobilinogen to 5-oxopyrrolinones. Rat blood is devoid of porphobilinogen-oxygenase under normal conditions while it carries porphobilinogen-deaminase activity. When the rats were submitted to hypoxia (pO2 = 0.42 atm) for 18 days, the activity of porphobilinogen-oxygenase appeared at the tenth day of hypoxia and reached the maximum at the 14-16th day. It decreased to a half after 2 days (half-life of the enzyme) and disappeared after 4 days of return to normal oxygen pressure. Porphobilinogen-deaminase activity increased after the first day of hypoxia, reached a maximum at the 14-16th day and did not decrease to normal values until the 15th day after return to normal oxygen pressure. The activities of both porphobilinogen-oxygenase and porphobilinogen-deaminase were induced by administration of erythropoietin. When rats were made anaemic with phenylhydrazine, porphobilinogen-oxygenase activity also appeared in the blood cells. Although the reticulocyte concentration was higher when compared to that obtained under hypoxia, the activities of the oxygenase obtained under both conditions were comparable. Porphobilinogen-deaminase activity was always closely related to the reticulocyte content. The appearance of porphobilinogenase-oxygenase under the described erythropoietic conditions was due to a de novo induction of the enzyme, as shown by its inhibition with actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Porphobilinogen-oxygenase as well as porphobilinogen-deaminase were present in the rat bone marrow under normal conditions. Their activities increased in phenylhydrazine treated rats. The properties and kinetics of porphobilinogen-oxygenase from the rat blood and bone marrow were determined and found it differ in several aspects.

Ammonia-Lyases↗

PubMed1996

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 in LMH cells. Comparison of LMH cells to primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells.

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the degradation of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron. Two forms of this enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 and -2, have been identified; only heme oxygenase-1 is subject to induction by heme, metal ions, and other chemical and physical perturbations (e.g. drugs, oxidants, and heat shock). Primary chick embryo liver cells are widely used for the study of heme metabolism because of their ease of preparation, low cost, and high degree of similarity to human heme metabolism. Nonetheless, this system has some limitations: new cultures must be prepared every week; the resulting cell populations are non-homogeneous; and cells are short-lived, limiting the feasible duration of time course and transfection studies. LMH cells are the first chicken hepatoma cell line to be established. The aim of this study was to characterize the regulation of heme oxygenase-1 in LMH cells, and to compare this regulation to that previously described in primary chick embryo liver cells. The induction of heme oxygenase-1 was assessed by measuring changes in mRNA levels or enzyme activities in response to several treatments, including heme, heavy metals, sodium arsenite, and heat shock, which have been shown to increase the expression of heme oxygenase. Similarities were observed with respect to regulation of heme oxygenase-1 expression in primary hepatocytes and LMH cells. We report the first measurable heat shock response of heme oxygenase-1 in CELC or LMH cells; and show that LMH cells are a useful model for the study of heme oxygenase-1 regulation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Increased heme oxygenase activity in splanchnic organs from portal hypertensive rats: role in modulating mesenteric vascular reactivity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We have recently demonstrated that heme oxygenase-1 is upregulated in splanchnic organs of portal hypertensive rats. In the present study, we assessed whether heme oxygenase enzymatic activity is increased in splanchnic organs of portal hypertensive rats, and the relative contribution of heme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthase to the vascular hyporeactivity in portal hypertension. METHODS: Heme oxygenase activity was measured in splanchnic organs of portal hypertensive and sham-operated rats. The effects of heme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthase inhibition on pressure responses to potassium chloride and methoxamine were assessed in perfused mesenteric vascular beds of portal hypertensive and sham-operated rats. RESULTS: Heme oxygenase activity was increased in the mesentery, intestine, liver, and spleen of portal hypertensive rats. The hyporeactivity to potassium chloride in portal hypertensive rats was overcome after simultaneous inhibition of both heme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthase, but only partially attenuated after nitric oxide synthase inhibition alone. The hyporeactivity to methoxamine was completely reversed after nitric oxide synthase blockade. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that heme oxygenase activity is increased in splanchnic organs of portal hypertensive rats. They also suggest that heme oxygenase contributes to the hyporeactivity to potassium chloride, but not to methoxamine, in portal hypertensive rats.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Heme oxygenase inhibitors reduce formalin-induced Fos expression in mouse spinal cord tissue.

Recent work from our laboratory and others supports a role for heme oxygenase in nociception and pain of several etiologies including inflammatory, incisional and neuropathic. Since it has been observed that heme oxygenase inhibitors reduce formalin-induced pain behaviors in mice and rats, we attempted to determine if this analgesic effect was reflected in a reduction in formalin-induced spinal cord Fos expression, an index of neuronal activation. To perform these studies, it was necessary to first examine the cytoarchitecture of the mouse lumbar spinal cord so that histological sections from known segmental levels could be chosen, and Fos-positive nuclei could be assigned to established dorsal horn laminae. After documenting the segmental and laminar distribution of Fos-positive nuclei following a 5% formalin injection, we went on to determine that the heme oxygenase inhibitor tin-protoporphyrin or morphine reduced this Fos expression as analyzed using confocal fluorescence microscopy. It was also observed that mice lacking expression of heme oxygenase type 2, an isozyme of heme oxygenase found in high abundance in the spinal cord, had lowered Fos expression after the formalin injection. Additional confocal microscopy studies demonstrated widespread expression of heme oxygenase type 2 in spinal cord neuron cell bodies. Double-labeling experiments showed that a high percentage of Fos-positive nuclei identified after administration of formalin were located within heme oxygenase type 2-positive cell profiles. Our studies support the hypothesis that heme oxygenase type 2 plays a role in formalin-induced nociception. Furthermore, from these results we suggest that the heme oxygenase type 2 located in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons participates in this nociceptive pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2007

JunB and JunD regulate human heme oxygenase-1 gene expression in renal epithelial cells.

Heme oxygenase-1 is a highly inducible gene, the product of which catalyzes breakdown of the prooxidant heme. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation of the human heme oxygenase-1 gene in renal epithelial cells. DNase I hyper-sensitivity studies identified three distal sites (HS-2, -3, and -4) corresponding to approximately -4.0, -7.2, and -9.2 kb, respectively, of the heme oxygenase-1 promoter in addition to one proximal region, HS-1, which we have shown previously to be an E box. In vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting of the HS-2 region revealed six individual protected guanines. Two mutations within HS-2 combined with a third mutation of the proximal E box abolished hemin- and cadmium-driven heme oxygenase-1 promoter activation, suggesting that these three sites synergized for maximal heme oxygenase-1 induction. Jun proteins bound to the antioxidant response element in the HS-2 region in vitro and associated with the heme oxygenase-1 promoter in vivo. JunB and JunD contribute opposing effects; JunB activated whereas JunD repressed heme oxygenase-1 expression in human renal epithelial cells, results that were corroborated in junB(-)(/)(-) and junD(-)(/)(-) cells. We propose that heme oxygenase-1 induction is controlled by a dynamic interplay of regulatory proteins, and we provide new insights into the molecular control of the human heme oxygenase-1 gene.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the pvdA gene encoding the pyoverdin biosynthetic enzyme L-ornithine N5-oxygenase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The enzyme L-ornithine N5-oxygenase catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-ornithine (L-Orn), which represents an early step in the biosynthesis of the peptidic moiety of the fluorescent siderophore pyoverdin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A gene bank of DNA from P. aeruginosa PAO1 (ATCC 15692) was constructed in the broad-host-range cosmid pLAFR3 and mobilized into the L-Orn N5-oxygenase-defective (pvdA) P. aeruginosa mutant PALS124. Screening for fluorescent transconjugants made it possible to identify the trans-complementing cosmid pPV4, which was able to restore pyoverdin synthesis and L-Orn N5-oxygenase activity in the pvdA mutant PALS124. The 17-kb PAO1 DNA insert of pPV4 contained at least two genetic determinants involved in pyoverdin synthesis, i.e., pvdA and pvdC4, as shown by complementation analysis of a set of mutants blocked in different steps of the pyoverdin biosynthetic pathway. Deletion analysis, subcloning, and transposon mutagenesis enabled us to locate the pvdA gene in a minimum DNA fragment of 1.7 kb flanked by two SphI restriction sites. Complementation of the pvdA mutation was under stringent iron control; both pyoverdin synthesis and L-Orn N5-oxygenase activity were undetectable in cells of the trans-complemented mutant which had been grown in the presence of 100 microM FeCl3. The entire nucleotide sequence of the pvdA gene, from which the primary structure of the encoded polypeptide was deduced, was determined. The pvdA structural gene is 1,278 bp; the cloned DNA fragment contains at the 5' end of the gene a putative ribosome-binding site but apparently lacks known promoterlike sequences. The P. aeruginosa L-Orn N5-oxygenase gene codes for a 426-amino-acid peptide with a predicted molecular mass of 47.7 kDa and an isoelectric point of 8.1. The enzyme shows approximately 50% homology with functional analogs, i.e., L-lysine N6-hydroxylase of aerobactin-producing Escherichia coli and L-Orn N5-oxygenase of ferrichrome-producing Ustilago maydis. The pvdA gene was expressed in P. aeruginosa under the control of the T7 promoter. Induction of the T7 RNA polymerase system resulted in parallel increases of the L-Orn N5-oxygenase activity and of the amount of a 47.7-kDa polypeptide. We also constructed a site-specific pvdA mutant by insertion of a tetracycline-resistance cassette in the chromosomal pvdA gene of P. aeruginosa PAO1. Similarly to strain PALS124, the pvdA mutant obtained by gene disruption also disclosed no pyoverdin synthesis, lacked L-Orn N5-oxygenase activity, was complemented by the cloned pvdA gene, and produced pyoverdin at wild-type levels when fed with the biosynthetic precursor L-N5-OH-Orn. Southern blot analysis indicated that genes homologous to pvdA could be located within a 1.7-kb DNA fragment from SphI-digested genomic DNA of different hydroxamate-producing Pseudomonas spp. Our results suggest that omega-amino acid oxygenases have been conserved over a wide evolutionary range and probably evolved from a common ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Functional and evolutionary relationships among diverse oxygenases.

Oxygenases that incorporate one or two atoms of dioxygen into substrates are found in many metabolic pathways. In this article, representative oxygenases, principally those found in bacterial pathways for the degradation of hydrocarbons, are reviewed. Monooxygenases, discussed in this chapter, incorporate one hydroxyl group into substrates. In this reaction, two atoms of dioxygen are reduced to one hydroxyl group and one H2O molecule by the concomitant oxidation of NAD(P)H. Dioxygenases catalyze the incorporation of two atoms of dioxygen into substrates. Two types of dioxygenases, aromatic-ring dioxygenases and aromatic-ring-cleavage dioxygenases, are discussed. The aromatic-ring dioxygenases incorporate two hydroxyl groups into aromatic substrates, and cis-diols are formed. This reaction also requires NAD(P)H as an electron donor. Aromatic-ring-cleavage dioxygenases incorporate two atoms of dioxygen into aromatic substrates, and the aromatic ring is cleaved. This reaction does not require an external reductant. All the oxygenases possess a cofactor, a transition metal, flavin or pteridine, that interacts with dioxygen. The concerted reactions between dioxygen and carbon in organic compounds are spin forbidden. The cofactor is used to overcome this restriction. For the oxygenases that require the NAD(P)H cofactor, the enzyme reaction is separated into two steps, the oxidation of NAD(P)H to generate two reducing equivalents, and the hydroxylation of substrates. Flavoprotein hydroxylases that catalyze the monohydroxylation of the aromatic ring carry out these two reactions on a single polypeptide chain. In other oxygenases, the NAD(P)H oxidation and a hydroxylation reaction are catalyzed by two separate polypeptides that are linked by a short electron-transport chain. Two reducing equivalents generated by the oxidation of NAD(P)H are transferred through the electron-transport chain to the cofactor on a hydroxylase component that they reduce. Dioxygen couples with the reduced cofactor and subsequently hydroxylates substrates. The electron-transport chains associated with oxygenases contain at least two redox centers. The first redox center is usually a flavin, while the second is an iron-sulfur cluster. The electron transport is initiated by a single two-electron transfer from NAD(P)H to a flavin, followed by two single-electron transfers from the flavin to an iron-sulfur cluster. The primary sequences of many oxygenases have been determined, and according to their sequence similarities, the oxygenases can be grouped into several protein families. Among proteins of the same family, the sequences in regions involved in cofactor binding are strongly conserved. Local sequence similarities are also observed among oxygenases from different families, primarily in regions involved in cofactor binding.

Biological Evolution↗