Heme & RAGE: A new opportunistic relationship?

Heme is an iron-containing complex involved in fundamental cellular functions including oxygen transport. Free heme accumulation blood, during intravascular hemolysis and other pathological conditions, triggers vascular dysfunction, pro-inflammatory, prothrombotic cascade. Studies by May et al present a novel finding that ligand for RAGE binds to the V domain of induces oligomerization. Furthermore, they show vivo consequences heme–RAGE interaction lead pro-inflammatory procoagulant phenotype lungs. This discovery as sets stage probing role homeostasis pathogenic hemolytic diseases.