Regulation of Complement Activation by Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in Kidney Injury

• Main Authors: Maria G. Detsika, Elias A. Lianos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Antioxidants
• Subjects: heme; heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); complement; kidney injury
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/1/60

Heme oxygenase is a cytoprotective enzyme with strong antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. Its cytoprotective role is mainly attributed to its enzymatic activity, which involves the degradation of heme to biliverdin with simultaneous release of carbon monoxide (CO). Recent studies uncovered a new cytoprotective role for heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by identifying a regulatory role on the complement control protein decay-accelerating factor. This is a key complement regulatory protein preventing dysregulation or overactivation of complement cascades that can cause kidney injury. Cell-specific targeting of HO-1 induction may, therefore, be a novel approach to attenuate complement-dependent forms of kidney disease.