Therapeutic Potential of Heme Oxygenase 1 in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Ischemia/reperfusion injury is a reaction occurring after successful treatment of an acute myocardial infarction or in the setting of solid organ transplantation. After successful reperfusion of a previously occluded vessel or a transplanted organ, an additional loss of otherwise vital cells may occur, the so-called lethal ischemia-reperfusion injury. This lethal reperfusion injury is based on rapid tissue oxygenation, leading to a release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing oxidative stress, endothelial cell activation and inflammation. Experimentally the reperfusion injury can be attenuated via ROS-scavenging, vessel stabilizing and anti-inflammatory interventions. Cytoprotective genes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), offer a therapeutic approach to address this problem. Therefore, this review will focus on the beneficial effects of HO-1 in ischemia/reperfusion injury.