Status of hepatic heme and heme oxygenase during Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infection in mice

Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infection in albino mice caused a significant increase in hepatic heme level, the increase being concomitant with a rise in parasitemia. This elevated heme was found to be associated with all the subcellular fractions except the cytosol, where its content remained unaltered. Activity of heme oxygenase, the key enzyme responsible for catabolism of heme, also increased progressively with rise in parasitemia. Treatment of normal mice with cobalt chloride [60 mg (kg body wt)-1; subcutaneously] brought about a 150% increase in the level of heme oxygenase; similar treatment of infected mice at low parasitemia could induce the enzyme activity while at high parasitemia the enzymic activity remained unaltered as compared to untreated infected mice. In spite of an increased level of heme oxygenase in the cobalt-treated mice, the level of heme did not show any noticeable change. Oral administration of chloroquine [64 mg (kg body wt)-1 x 4 days] brought about a 56% reduction in the level of heme oxygenase of normal animals but there was no change in infected animals when compared with the corresponding untreated infected mice. However, the amount of chloroquine present in livers of normal and infected animals was not significantly different.

Enhancement of heme oxygenase-1 synthesis by glutathione depletion in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Chinese hamster ovary cells cultured in vitro were used to assess the role of glutathione metabolism in the induction of the 32-kDa stress protein. Enhanced synthesis of the 32-kDa protein was observed after cells were incubated with CdCl2 or diethylmaleate and protein was subjected to SDS-PAGE followed by fluorography. Concomitantly, in both cell preparations an increase in heme oxygenase activity was observed. Proteins from CdCl2- and diethylmaleate-treated cells were subjected to Western blotting and protein crossreacting with either rabbit antibody to rat liver heme oxygenase-1 (32,000 Mr) or rat testis heme oxygenase-2 (36,000 Mr) quantitated. The analysis indicated that the CdCl2 treatment increased the intensity of the HO-1 band 5.5-fold while the diethylmaleate treatment increased it three-fold relative to control. Neither treatment affected the intensity of HO-2 antibody binding. Incubation of cells with buthionine sulfoximine, under conditions which resulted in greater than or equal to 90% of the intracellular glutathione being depleted, enhanced synthesis of a 32-kDa protein when assayed by SDS-PAGE. This protein exhibited a Mr similar to the 32-kDa protein induced by either CdCl2 or diethylmaleate treatment. Proteins from buthionine sulfoximine and diethylmaleate-treated cells were mixed together and subjected to 2D PAGE. The resulting fluorograph demonstrated that both treatments produced identical patterns. In contrast, incubation of cells in diamide, a thiol oxidizing compound, resulted in enhanced synthesis of the 110-, 90-, and 73-kDa heat shock proteins but not the 32-kDa protein. The data presented have shown that depletion of glutathione by two independent methods, conjugation and inhibition of synthesis, enhances the synthesis of a 32-kDa protein identified as heme oxygenase-1; oxidation of glutathione, on the other hand did not. We interpret this to indicate that glutathione depletion rather than conjugation or oxidation represents one pathway for induction of heme oxygenase-1.

Chronic treatment with tin normalizes blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We have reported that short-term treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with stannous chloride (SnCl2), which selectively depletes renal cytochrome P450, restores blood pressure to normal in young but not in adult SHR, and is without effect on blood pressure of either young or adult WKY rats. We report in the present study that chronic treatment with SnCl2, begun at age 5 weeks, prevented the development of hypertension in SHR over a period of 15 weeks at which time they were killed. Suspension of SnCl2 treatment after 8 weeks (i.e., at age 13 weeks) did not result in return of blood pressure to hypertensive levels in SHR. Age-matched WKY rats were not affected by tin treatment. These findings provide additional evidence that administration of tin, which stimulates heme oxygenase, thereby producing depletion of cytochrome P450, restores blood pressure to normal levels in SHR.

Eclectic mechanisms of heme regulation of hematopoiesis

Regulatory features of heme (ferroprotoporphyrin IX) on hematopoietic growth/differentiation and related processes are reviewed. It is emphasized that expressions of specific erythroid and nonerythroid heme biosynthetic and degradatory enzymes are required, and the regulatory processes whereby this occurs is considered. The specificity of heme, relationship to cellular events such as differentiation, response to growth factors, oncogene and receptor expression, and how heme counteracts toxic effects such as viral growth are all discussed. The significance of heme in the hemopoietic bone marrow microenvironment and growth factor network are considered. Finally, the third pathway for arachidonic acid metabolism via the heme-cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system, in addition to cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, by bone marrow adherent cells and its role in cellular differentiation is briefly reviewed.

Molecular regulation--biological role of heme in hematopoiesis

Heme synthesis and degradation play pivotal roles in the regulation of growth and differentiation of erythroid and non-erythroid cells. Heme synthesis in mammalian cells involves eight enzymes which are localized in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic compartments. These enzymes have been well-characterized and cDNAs for six of the enzymes has been cloned. Two enzymes in the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway, delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) have special features and may have regulatory functions in heme synthesis by hematopoietic cells. ALAS exists as two isozymes which are encoded by non-erythroid and erythroid-specific genes, respectively. By contrast, PBG-D, which also exists as two isozymes, arises from a single gene comprised of two overlapping transcriptional units, each with its own promoter. Transcription from one or the other of these promoters gives rise through differential splicing to two distinct mRNA species which encode the distinct nonerythroid and erythroid isoforms. On the other hand, heme catabolism is determined by the levels of the heme oxygenase system. The enzyme has been purified and the cDNA for heme oxygenase has been cloned. Repression of heme oxygenase in erythroid progenitor cells may initiate differentiation. In addition, recent evidence has suggested that heme may have a broader role in hematopoiesis and in the network of cytokine production by adherent stromal cells.

Omeprazole and cytochrome P450-dependent hepatic metabolism: a comparison of endogenous and exogenous substrates in male rats

Omeprazole, a benzimidazole compound which inhibits H+/K+ ATPase in the gut, is used in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clinical and experimental use of omeprazole has been associated with inhibition of the cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of a few drugs both in vivo in man and in vitro in animals. In these experiments, in vivo administration of omeprazole to rats failed to inhibit the cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of four prototypic drugs, testosterone or estradiol.

Factors involved in the depression of hepatic mixed function oxidase during infections with Listeria monocytogenes

A number of infections are capable of depressing the capacity of the liver to metabolize drugs. We have studied a number of factors which could be involved in the depression of cytochrome P-450 and related drug biotransformation enzymes during infections with Listeria monocytogenes. During the course of the infection, drug metabolism and heme content of hepatic microsomes were depressed but heme oxygenase was elevated. A free radical scavenger alpha-tocopherol did not prevent the loss and xanthine oxidase activities did not correlate with the time course of the loss. Infections in susceptible (balb/c) mice produced a larger loss in drug metabolism than in resistant (C57BL/6) mice, and an avirulent strain of the bacteria was without effect. A preparation of hemolysin isolated from Listeria monocytogenes produced a dose-dependent loss of cytochrome P-450 in isolated hepatocytes. These experiments indicate that the loss of drug metabolism during Listeria infections is most likely due to hemolysin released by the bacteria.

Enzymic conversion of alpha-oxyprotohaem IX into biliverdin IX alpha by haem oxygenase

Conversion of four isomers of meso-oxyprotohaem IX into the corresponding biliverdin IX was attempted with a reconstituted haem oxygenase system in the presence of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and NADPH. Only the alpha-isomer of meso-oxyprotohaem IX was converted effectively into biliverdin IX alpha, which was further reduced to bilirubin IX alpha by biliverdin reductase. Only trace amounts of biliverdins IX beta, IX gamma and IX delta were respectively formed from the incubation mixture of the corresponding oxyprotohaemin IX isomers with the complete haem oxygenase system under the same conditions. In a kinetic study, the Km for alpha-meso-oxyprotohaem IX was 3.6 microM, which was 2-fold higher than that for protohaem IX. The maximum velocity (Vmax.) of the conversion of alpha-meso-oxyprotohaem IX into biliverdin IX alpha was twice as fast as that of protohaem IX. These results demonstrate that alpha-meso-oxyprotohaem IX is an intermediate of haem degradation and it was converted stereospecifically into biliverdin IX alpha via verdohaem IX alpha.

Hemopexin-dependent down-regulation of expression of the human transferrin receptor

To investigate the regulation mechanism of the uptake of iron and heme iron by the cells and intracellular utilization of iron, we examined the interaction between iron uptake from transferrin and hemopexin-mediated uptake of heme by human leukemic U937 cells or HeLa cells. U937 cells exhibited about 40,000 hemopexin receptors/cell with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1 nM. Heme bound in hemopexin was taken up by U937 cells or HeLa cells in a receptor-mediated manner. Treatment of both species of cells with hemopexin led to a rapid decrease in iron uptake from transferrin in a hemopexin dose-dependent manner, and the decrease seen in case of treatment with hemin was less than that seen with hemopexin. The decrease of iron uptake by hemopexin contributed to a decrease in cell surface transferrin receptors on hemopexin-treated cells. Immunoblot analysis of the transferrin receptors revealed that the cellular level of receptors in U937 cells did not vary during an 8-h incubation with hemopexin although the number of surface receptors as well as iron uptake decreased within the 2-h incubation. After 4 h of incubation of the cells with hemopexin, a decrease of the synthesis of the receptors occurred. Thus, the down-regulation of transferrin receptors by hemopexin can be attributed to at least two mechanisms. One is a rapid redistribution of the surface receptor into the interior of the cells, and the other is a decrease in the biosynthesis of the receptor. 59Fe from the internalized heme rapidly appeared in non-heme iron (ferritin) coincidently with the induction of heme oxygenase. The results suggest that iron released from heme down-regulates the expression of the transferrin receptors and iron uptake.

Effect of heme arginate administration on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cytochrome P450 content and activities are increased in the kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) as compared with those of normotensive, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), control rats during the period of rapid elevation of blood pressure. We studied the effect of heme arginate, a potent inducer of heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3), on microsomal cytochrome P450 levels and activities and blood pressure in SHR at 7 wk of age. Administration of heme arginate (15 mg/kg body weight for 4 d) resulted in a marked decrease in blood pressure from 156.3 +/- 4.7 to 129.8 +/- 4.5 mm Hg (P less than 0.001), whereas blood pressure in SHR receiving the vehicle control was not affected. The blood pressure of age-matched WKY was not affected by heme arginate. Heme oxygenase activity increased in both hepatic and renal microsomes of SHR and WKY by two- to four-fold after treatment with heme arginate. Maximal increase of heme oxygenase mRNA occurred 5-7 h after the last injection of heme arginate and returned to control levels after 24 h. The increase in heme oxygenase activity was associated with a parallel decrease in cytochrome P450 content and in the activity of cytochrome P450 omega/omega-1 arachidonate hydroxylases in kidneys of SHR. It is postulated that heme arginate treatment resulted in induction of heme oxygenase which consequently led to a diminution of cytochrome P450, especially the arachidonate omega/omega-1 hydroxylases leading to a marked decrease in 19-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and 20-HETE. The effect of heme arginate on blood pressure may be mediated via these biochemical events inasmuch as both 19-HETE and 20-HETE produced by the kidney may promote hypertension by causing vasoconstriction and sodium retention.

Developmental biology of heme oxygenase

The regulation of heme oxygenase activity in the developing neonate is essential to the control of bilirubin production as well as intracellular heme and hemoprotein metabolism. The coordinated activity of the microsomal enzymes, heme oxygenase and NADPH-cytochrome c (P450) reductase, and the cytosolic enzyme biliverdin reductase is responsible for the degradation of heme. The complete reaction sequence requires oxygen and NADPH, and produces bilirubin and carbon monoxide in equimolar amounts. Although heme oxygenase expresses a rather broad range of substrate affinities, the oxidative degradation of heme is exclusively alpha-specific. Heme oxygenase is found in several tissues, with significant activity levels in the liver, spleen, and erythropoeitic tissue. Heme oxygenase activity is inducible by heme and other metalloporphyrins, hormones, starvation, stress, toxins, and xenobiotics. Heme oxygenase induction is generally considered to be the result of an increased protein synthesis and gene transcription. This hypothesis is supported by recent studies of the heme oxygenase gene that identified inducer element binding sites responsive to metal administration, heat shock, and nutrient availability. In the developing fetus and neonate, hepatic heme oxygenase activity and mRNA levels are elevated above that of the adult. This suggests that the elevated heme catabolism observed in neonates may be associated with an increased transcription of the heme oxygenase gene. The apparent induction of hepatic heme oxygenase during the neonatal period is probably the result of tissue-specific and time-dependent transcriptional regulating factors including potentially hormones and heme. Several metalloporphyrins, such as the tin and zinc porphyrin complexes, inhibit heme oxygenase activity and thus have therapeutic potential for the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Recent studies suggest that the meso- and bis-glycol derivatives of these metalloporphyrins may be more potent inhibitors of heme oxygenase activity in vitro and in vivo than the protoporphyrin structures. As structural analogues of heme, however, these compounds may also have other less desirable effects on the regulation of heme and hemoprotein metabolism, particularly in the developing neonate.

Promotion of trans-platinum in vivo effects on renal heme and hemoprotein metabolism by D,L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine. Possible role of glutathione

We have examined the toxicity of trans-platinum (trans-diamminedichloroplatinum II) to heme and hemoprotein metabolism in the kidney of glutathione (GSH)-depleted rats and compared it with that produced by cis-platinum. Unlike cis-platinum treatment (7.0 mg/kg, i.v.) which caused after 7 days significant increases in cytochromes P450 and b5, and a marked decrease in porphyrin content of the kidney, trans-platinum alone (7 mg/kg, i.v.) did not elicit notable changes in these variables when measured 1 or 7 days after treatment. Also, cis-platinum treatment significantly altered the heme degradation pathway by increasing the activity of heme oxygenase and decreasing that of biliverdin reductase; trans-platinum treatment did not elicit a response in these activities. However, when rats were given the inhibitor of GSH synthesis, D,L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), the subsequent administration (2 hr later) of trans-platinum produced, in 1 day, the spectrum of responses that were mediated by cis-platinum after 7 days. In the kidneys of rats treated with BSO plus trans-platinum the concentration of platinum measured only about 50% of that detected in the kidneys of rats treated with trans-platinum alone. In the liver, trans-platinum by itself or in combination with BSO was ineffective in altering the measured variables of heme metabolism. The possibility that similarity between cis-platinum and trans-platinum plus BSO may extend to systems other than heme metabolism, e.g. GSH synthesis and degradation, was examined. cis-Platinum caused significant inhibition of both renal gamma-glutamyl synthetase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase after 7 days, but not after 1 day. Twenty-four hours after treatment, BSO + trans-platinum caused inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity, whereas this activity in animals treated with BSO alone had returned to control values. At this time point, neither oxidized glutathione (GSSG)-reductase nor gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity was affected by trans-platinum + BSO treatment. The findings suggest that GSH constitutes an important defense mechanism against trans-platinum alteration of heme metabolism and may play a role in cellular accumulation of the drug in an inactive complex. It is proposed that BSO treatment, despite resulting in a diminished intracellular concentration of trans-platinum, allows reaction of the metal complex with target molecules by virtue of its ability to deplete GSH.

Purification and characterization of heme oxygenase from chick liver. Comparison of the avian and mammalian enzymes

A major inducible form of heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) was purified from liver microsomes of chicks pretreated with cadmium chloride. The purification involved solubilization of microsomes with Emulgen 913 and sodium cholate, followed by DEAE-Sephacel, carboxymethyl-cellulose (CM-52) and hydroxyapatite chromatography, and FPLC through Superose 6 and 12 columns operating in series. The final product gave a single band on silver-stained SDS/polyacrylamide gels (Mr = 33,000). Optimal conditions for measurement of activity of solubilized heme oxygenase were studied. In a reconstituted system containing purified heme oxygenase, NADPH-cytochrome reductase, biliverdin reductase and NADPH, the Km for free heme was 3.8 +/- 0.5 microM; for heme in the presence of bovine serum albumin (5 mol heme/3 mol albumin) the Km was 5.0 +/- 0.8 microM; and the Km for NADPH was 6.1 +/- 0.4 microM (all values mean +/- SD, n = 3). Oxygen concentration as low as 15 microM, with saturating concentrations of heme and NADPH, did not affect the reaction rate, indicating that the supply of oxygen is not involved in the physiological regulation of activity of the enzyme. The pH optimum of the reaction was 7.4; at 37 degrees C, the apparent Vmax was 580 +/- 44 nmol biliverdin.(mg protein)-1.min-1 and the molecular activity was 19.2 min-1. Biliverdin IXa was the sole biliverdin isomer formed. In the presence of purified biliverdin reductase, biliverdin was converted quantitatively to bilirubin. Addition of catalase to the reconstituted system decreased the breakdown of heme to non-biliverdin products and led to nearly stoichiometric conversion of heme to biliverdin. Activity of the enzyme in the reconstituted system was inhibited by metalloporphyrins in the following order of decreasing potency: tin mesoporphyrin greater than tin protoporphyrin greater than zinc protoporphyrin greater than manganese protoporphyrin greater than cobalt protoporphyrin. Protoporphyrin (3.3 or 6.6 microM) (and several other porphyrins) and metallic ions (100 microM) alone had little if any inhibitory effect, except for Hg2+ which inhibited by 67% at 10 microM and totally at 15 microM. Following partial cleavage, fragments of the purified enzyme were sequenced. Comparison of sequences to those derived from cDNA sequences for the major inducible rat and human heme oxygenase showed 69% and 76% similarities, respectively. The histidine residue at position 132 of rat heme oxygenase-1 and the residues (Lys128-Arg136) flanking His132 were conserved in all three enzymes, as well as in the corresponding portion of a fourth less highly similar rat enzyme, heme oxygenase-2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Interaction of upstream stimulatory factor with the human heme oxygenase gene promoter

Upstream stimulatory factor (USF), originally identified in HeLa cells, interacts with the upstream promoter sequence of adenovirus 2 major late promoter (Ad2MLP) and activates its transcription. USF is present in uninfected HeLa cells and appears to be involved in the transcription of cellular genes related to stress. Recently, we have proposed that the rat heme oxygenase gene, newly identified heat-shock protein gene, is regulated at least in partly by a rat homolog of USF [Sato, M., Fukushi, Y., Ishizawa, S., Okinaga, S., Muller, R.M. & Shibahara, S. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 10251-10260]. We therefore confirm that the heme oxygenase gene is expressed in HeLa cells and its expression is increased by cadmium, suggesting that human heme oxygenase is a stress protein similar to the metallothioneins. Using partially purified USF from HeLa cells, we show that USF binds to the human heme oxygenase gene promoter and stimulates its cell-free transcription. The cis-acting element, identified as CACGTGACCCG, is located 34 bp upstream from the transcription initiation site, and contains the core sequence of the upstream promoter sequence of Ad2MLP. We propose that USF contributes to the transcription of the human heme oxygenase gene.

[Effects of lead on drug metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P-450 and hemeoxygenase in rats]

The effects of lead on the drug metabolizing system in liver microsomes and porphyrin metabolism in the bone marrow were studied using male Wistar rats (about 250 g in weight). To study the acute effects of lead, rats were given lead injection intraperitoneally once a day for three consecutive days at a dose of 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, 10 or 50 mg/kg of lead in the form of lead acetate in a 5% glucose solution. In the 2nd experiment, the chronic effects of lead were studied by administering lead at a dose of 0 (control), 5 and 20 mg/kg once a week for 9 wk for a total of 10 administrations. After the last injection, each rat was fasted for 22 h in a metabolic cage to prevent the animal from eating bed chips or feces and was then sacrificed by decapitation. The rat liver microsome enzymes were used to evaluate the effects of lead on the hepatic functions. In the acute stage, lead decreased the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes, such as aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase, and decreased the contents of microsomal cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5. In the chronic stage, lead decreased the cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 contents and induced hypertrophic liver, but did not affect the activity of aniline hydroxylase. These findings suggest that the rat gradually gained resistance against lead toxicity in the chronic stage. In a supplementary experiment, lead was found to decrease the contents of heme in the microsome and to increase the activity of hemeoxygenase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protective effect of Sn-protoporphyrin against doxorubicin-induced perturbations of heme metabolism

The administration of doxorubicin, an anti-tumor antibiotic, to rodents resulted in an increase in heme oxygenase activity and a decrease in delta-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthase activity and in cellular heme and cytochrome P450 content in liver. Sn-protoporphyrin, a potent inhibitor of heme degradation both in vitro and in vivo, when administered to rodents prior to doxorubicin, mitigates the drug-induced toxic actions which are reflected by the drug-induced decreases of both cellular heme and cytochrome P450 content. Sn-protoporphyrin thus provides a pharmacological means of protecting against the toxic effects of doxorubicin and other drugs which enhance heme oxygenase activity and thus decrease cellular heme and cytochrome P450 content in vivo.

Characterization of heme oxygenase in the small intestinal epithelium

Heme oxygenase activity was examined in the epithelial cells of the small intestine in male Sprague-Dawley rats. As with liver and spleen, the highest specific activity of this enzyme was found in the microsomal fraction of these cells. Substrate kinetics, analysis of cofactor requirements, and other biochemical characteristics suggested further similarities between heme oxygenase in the small intestine and liver. Enzyme activity was differentially localized longitudinally within the small intestine, with the highest specific activity occurring in the region approximately 15 to 30 cm beyond the pylorus. The effects of diet on the basal levels of heme oxygenase in the proximal small intestine were also examined. Although intestinal cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase activity, as determined by benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, was greatly reduced (65-90%) in animals maintained on a semipurified control diet compared with standard cereal-based chow, there were no differences observed in heme oxygenase activity between the two dietary treatment groups. The activity of intestinal heme oxygenase could be increased, however, by oral treatment with several metal compounds that are known to affect hepatic heme metabolism when administered parenterally. The enzyme activity was also potently inhibited by tin (Sn4+) protoporphyrin administered orally or parenterally.

Modulation of the induction of rat hepatic cytochromes P-450 by selenium deficiency

The induction by phenobarbital of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 has been demonstrated to be impaired in rats fed a selenium-deficient diet. Cytochrome P-450 isozyme specific immunologic and molecular techniques were used in the present study to better define the role of selenium in the induction of cytochrome P-450 by phenobarbital. Phenobarbital treatment of the selenium-deficient rats resulted in an increase in the level of total cytochrome P-450 50% of that observed with control rats and in a 10-fold increase in microsomal heme oxygenase. Quantitative immunoblot analyses demonstrated that the levels of cytochromes P-450b + e and P-450p in the phenobarbital-treated selenium-deficient rats were approximately 50% of those found in the phenobarbital-treated control rats. Finally, RNA hybridization studies using cDNA probes to cytochromes P-450b + e or P-450p demonstrated that the accumulations of the RNAs encoding these cytochromes P-450 were unaffected by the selenium status of the rats. These studies suggest that the impaired phenobarbital induction of the cytochromes P-450 in the selenium-deficient rats is the result of an increase in the degradation of the cytochromes P-450 or a decrease in the translation of the mRNAs coding for them.

[The role of heme in the regulation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activity and content of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver]

The effects of exogenous heme on the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthase, heme oxygenase, tryptophan-2.3-dioxygenase and microsomal cytochrome content in rat liver were studied. It was shown that hemin chloride diminishes the delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity and provokes heme oxygenase induction. This is paralleled with the induction of the tryptophan 2.3-dioxygenase apoenzyme and an increase in the saturation of the enzyme with heme. The cytochrome b5 content does not change thereby, whereas that of cytochrome P-450 shows a decrease. Upon combined administration of actinomycin D and hemin the cytochrome P-450 level is markedly increased. Actinomycin D by itself has no effect on the hemoprotein concentration. It is concluded that the increase in the cytochrome P-450 level results from the activation of heme-induced mRNA translation.

Posttranslational and direct integration of heme oxygenase into microsomes

Rat liver heme oxygenase has a large cytoplasmically exposed domain containing the N-terminus that can be cleaved from the membranes by a low concentration of trypsin, indicating that heme oxygenase is embedded in membranes with an insertion sequence near its C-terminal portion. Heme oxygenase synthesized in a cell-free system or purified from microsomes after detergent-solubilization was integrated into microsomal membranes posttranslationally and directly, like cytochrome b5.

Mechanism of iron potentiation of hepatic uroporphyria: studies in cultured chick embryo liver cells

Effects of iron were studied in cultured chick embryo liver cells to help elucidate the effect of hepatic iron in the human disease porphyria cutanea tarda and in toxic porphyria caused by chemicals. These cultures have proven useful because (a) phenobarbital and phenobarbital-like drugs induce a common form(s) of cytochrome P-450 (P-450-phenobarbital) in these cultures; (b) 20-methylcholanthrene and certain other polycyclic hydrocarbons induce a different form(s) (P-450-methylchol-anthrene), and (c) uroporphyria can be produced rapidly by exposure to suitable chemicals. In these cultures, treatment with iron alone did not produce porphyrin accumulation, and treatment with iron + 5-aminolevulinate caused accumulation of protoporphyrin, as did treatment with 5-aminolevulinate alone. However, treatment with phenobarbital-like drugs and iron, the latter at a concentration as low as 0.2 microM, led to accumulation of uro- and heptacarboxylporphyrins. Potentiation of uroporphyrin accumulation by iron began before there was a detectable synergistic increase in activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase, the rate-controlling enzyme of heme synthesis. In contrast, treatment of cultures with 20-methylcholanthrene, in the presence or absence of iron, did not result in uroporphyrin accumulation or an increase in the activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity was unchanged by drug and iron treatments. Inhibitors of P-450-phenobarbital, SKF525A and piperonyl butoxide, as well as cadmium and cycloheximide prevented the porphyrin accumulation produced by glutethimide + iron, even though, except with cycloheximide, these substances further increased 5-aminolevulinate synthase activity. In vitro, uroporphyrin was oxidized autocatalytically by iron. In intact hepatocytes, even low concentrations of iron (0.2 to 20 microM), in the presence of a form of cytochrome P-450 induced by phenobarbital-like chemicals, produces uroporphyria primarily by enhancing uroporphyrinogen oxidation, not by inhibition of the decarboxylase. Induction of 5-aminolevulinate synthase amplifies the porphyrin overproduction.

Erythropoietin controls heme metabolic enzymes in normal human bone marrow culture

Erythropoietin (Epo) was found to act as a concentration-dependent inducer of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase and porphobilinogen (PBG) deaminase in normal human bone marrow in culture. Epo increased enzymatic activities in individual plated nucleated cells. At a low concentration of Epo, heme oxygenase activity did not change in human bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells. However, Epo at a concentration of 2 U/ml increased heme oxygenase as demonstrated by an increase in both the enzyme protein and its mRNA. In experiments with an inhibitor of heme synthesis, succinylacetone (SA), Epo failed to stimulate erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E) growth, but this CFU-E inhibition by SA was completely overcome by the addition of hemin. Epo nevertheless potentiated induction of ALA synthase in the presence of SA. Hemin exerted its regulatory role by negative feedback on ALA synthase in the presence of SA and Epo. Heme potentiated Epo action and resulted in the increase of human marrow erythroid progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation and a concomitant stimulation of ALA synthase and PBG deaminase. The potentiating effects of hemin on CFU-E growth were observed in human bone marrow cells cultured in media supplemented with fetal calf serum or serum-free media with interleukin 3 (IL-3). These results indicate that Epo is a potent inducer of ALA synthase and PBG deaminase in normal human bone marrow. In addition, our results may explain the mechanisms by which heme potentiates Epo or IL-3 enhancement of erythropoiesis. 1) Heme may stimulate the translation of several globin and nonglobin mRNAs, including those of ALA synthase and PBG deaminase; 2) as endogenous cellular heme synthesis reaches optimal levels, heme exerts its regulatory role on ALA synthase by negative feedback inhibition. Additionally, an increase in cellular heme may lead to an increase in its own degradation by induction of heme oxygenase.

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.

Long-term effects of phenobarbital on rat liver microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes and heme-metabolizing enzyme

Long-term effects of phenobarbital on changes of rat hepatic enzymes involved in drug and heme metabolism were examined by employing two different treatment schedules which produce tolerance (tolerant group) and/or dependence (dependent group) against the drug. In both treatment groups, phenobarbital produced a marked and persistent induction of cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine N-demethylase; the response was greater in the tolerant group than that in the dependent group at the early time periods. Thereafter, the magnitude of the induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes gradually decreased and finally was maintained at two-fold of the corresponding control levels. Likewise, the induction of cytochrome P-450b+e content, one of the major phenobarbital inducible species, was maintained at 40% of the total cytochrome P-450 content. Phenobarbital treatment resulted in increase of delta-aminolevulinate synthetase (ALAS) activity and a decrease in heme oxygenase (HO) activity. Changes of these enzymes involved in heme metabolism coincided with changes of the drug-metabolizing enzymes. Finally, the changes of enzyme content and activity after terminating phenobarbital treatment were determined and enzyme biological half-lives were calculated employing protein synthesis inhibitors. No significant differences in the changes of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-450b+e content between the groups were observed after terminating phenobarbital treatment. However, changes of ALAS and HO activities after terminating the drug were significantly different between the groups; changes in the dependent group corresponded to the decrease in serum phenobarbital levels. On the other hand, biological half-lives of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes were longer in the tolerant group than in the dependent group.

Heme catabolism in cultured hepatocytes: evidence that heme oxygenase is the predominant pathway and that a proportion of synthesized heme is converted rapidly to biliverdin

Heme oxygenase has been considered to be involved in the predominant pathway of heme degradation in vivo. However, alternative pathways involving cytochrome P-450 reductase, and lipid peroxidation, have previously been demonstrated in vitro, and studies with cultured rat hepatocytes were interpreted to show a majority of endogenous hepatic heme breakdown by non-heme oxygenase pathways. To clarify the pathway of heme breakdown in hepatocytes and the role of heme oxygenase in this process, cultured hepatocytes were pre-labelled with 5-[5-14C]aminolevulinate [( 14C]ALA). Radioactivity in heme, carbon monoxide, and bile pigments was measured for 8-24 h after the removal of [14C]ALA. In cultured chick embryo hepatocytes, which lack biliverdin reductase, the rate of production of biliverdin IXa was closely similar to the rate of catabolism of exogenous heme and radioactivity in carbon monoxide and biliverdin IXa was similar to the loss of radioactivity from endogenous heme. These results support the conclusion that heme breakdown occurred predominantly, if not solely, by heme oxygenase. Also, no evidence of non-heme oxygenase pathways was found in the presence of tin protoporphyrin, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase or mephenytoin, an inducer of both cytochrome P-450 and heme oxygenase. Similarly, in untreated cultured rat hepatocytes, radioactivity in carbon monoxide corresponded with loss of radioactivity in endogenous heme. In other experiments with chick hepatocyte cultures, rates of heme synthesis and breakdown were measured, and data were fitted to various models of hepatic heme metabolism. The results observed were consistent only with models in which an appreciable fraction (control cells, 17%, mephenytoin treated cells, 41%) of the newly synthesized heme was degraded rapidly to biliverdin.

Induction of pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 species by coal fly ash inhalation in rats

The effect of fly ash inhalation on xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and heme metabolism in lung and liver has been studied in rats. Fly ash inhalation induced pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 content, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione S-transferase activity. Induction of cytochrome P-450 was accompanied by induction of delta-amino levulinic acid synthetase in lung and inhibition of heme oxygenase in both lung and liver. Fly ash inhalation induced those species of cytochrome P-450 which closely resembled cytochrome P-448 in spectral properties and electrophoretic mobility.

Expression of rat liver heme oxygenase gene during development

We studied the genetic expression during fetal development of heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the oxidation of heme to bilirubin. The transcription of the heme oxygenase gene in livers of fetal and neonatal rats (9 days before birth to 28 days after birth) was examined. Hybridization analyses of total RNA from livers of these animals using cDNA for rat heme oxygenase as the probe revealed a single mRNA species of approximately 18 S in every sample examined. The mRNA level was above the adult level throughout the course of study and reached a maximum 24 h after birth. The high level of heme oxygenase mRNA in fetuses was unaffected when Sn-protoporphyrin, a potent inhibitor of heme oxygenase, was administered to their mothers. On the other hand, the mRNA levels in the mothers treated with this heme analog were substantially increased, possibly by the same mechanism as for the induction by heme. Sn-protoporphyrin potentiates induction of heme oxygenase mRNA in cobalt chloride-pretreated rats, and also acts as a potent inhibitor of heme oxygenase enzyme activities. Our results also indicate that high heme oxygenase levels during fetal maturation are due to an increase in transcription of the gene. Thus, Sn-protoporphyrin which crosses the placenta controls fetal hyperbilirubinemia by direct enzyme inhibition.

Actions of orally administered organotin compounds on heme metabolism and cytochrome P-450 content and function in intestinal epithelium

The gastrointestinal tract is a major route by which humans are exposed to environmental chemicals. We have examined in these studies the effects of oral administration of organotin compounds in the small intestinal epithelium, an organ which exhibits highly active drug and other chemical metabolism. A series of n-butyltin compounds was administered by gavage to male Sprague-Dawley rats (225-275 g) in single doses up to 250 mumol/kg body weight. Bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) produced dose- and time-dependent decreases in the content and functional activity of intestinal cytochrome P-450, together with an elevation (3-fold) in the activity of microsomal heme oxygenase. The effects of di-n-butyltin dichloride on heme oxygenase and cytochrome P-450 were pronounced in the small intestine and extended to the liver and kidneys within 21 hr after oral-exposure, whereas TBTO did not affect the liver until much later (6 days), when cytochrome P-450 content was reduced markedly (30%). Furthermore, the effects produced by tetra-n-butyltin on cytochrome P-450 at 24 hr were localized in the intestinal epithelium. These studies indicate important pharmacological effects of organotin compounds in the gut, and raise the possibility that concurrent oral ingestion of organotins with other environmental pollutants may alter the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of xenobiotics and natural substrates of this monooxygenase system in the small intestine.

Differential effects of cyclosporin on hepatic and renal heme, cytochrome P-450 and drug metabolism. Possible role in nephrotoxicity of the drug

Treatment of rats with 25 or 50 mg/kg cyclosporin A for 6 days elicited vastly different responses in hepatic and renal heme and drug metabolism activities. In the liver, cytochrome P-450 concentration was decreased significantly (to 70-75% of the control). This was accompanied by a marked reduction in benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity (to 20-28% of the control). Aniline hydroxylation was also decreased, but to a lesser extent (to 77% of the control). In contrast, in the kidney cytochrome P-450 concentration was significantly increased to (145-170% of the control), along with a modest decrease in benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation activity. In this organ, the concentration of porphyrins was severely decreased (to 30% of the control). Also, the activities of delta-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthetase and ALA dehydratase, as well as that of heme oxygenase, were inhibited. It is suggested that in the kidney the inhibition of degradation, rather than an enhanced rate of synthesis of the heme molecule, contributes to the observed increase in cytochrome P-450 concentration. In the liver, the decrease in the cytochrome concentration could not be explained in terms of an alteration in the rate of heme biosynthesis or degradation. Therefore, the observed decrease in cytochrome P-450 concentration could reflect the direct inactivation of the hemoprotein or regulation of apoprotein production by cyclosporin and/or its metabolite(s). The possible relevance of the observations to cyclosporin nephrotoxicity is discussed.

Treatment with tin prevents the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) increased in the kidneys of young, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) during the period of rapid elevation of blood pressure (BP) but not in adult SHRs or in Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) with normal BP. Treatment of SHRs and WKYs with stannous chloride (SnCl2), which selectively depletes renal cytochrome P-450, restored BP to normal, coincident with a natriuresis, in young but not in adult SHRs and did not affect either BP or sodium excretion in WKYs. Depletion of renal cytochrome P-450 was associated with decreased generation of these AA metabolites only in young SHRs. The antihypertensive effect of SnCl2 in young SHRs was greatly reduced by prevention of its cytochrome P-450-depleting action.

Multiplicity of heme oxygenase isozymes. HO-1 and HO-2 are different molecular species in rat and rabbit

We report on the detection and characterization of two forms of heme oxygenase in rabbit tissues and provide data suggesting that heme oxygenases in rat and rabbit are not identical and constitute a group of heterogenous proteins. Certain molecular properties, however, are shared by the isozymes in rat and rabbit; the predominant form of the enzyme in control liver and testis is HO-2, in the liver HO-1 is the inducible form, and in the brain HO-1 is not detectable. HO-1 was purified from liver of rabbits treated with bromobenzene to near homogeneity with a specific activity of 8,270 nmol of bilirubin/mg/h and compared with a homogenous preparation of rat HO-1 with a specific activity of 6,220, also obtained from bromobenzene-treated animals. Rat and rabbit HO-1, on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, had molecular weights of 30,000 and 30,700, respectively. Rabbit HO-2 was partially purified from testis to a specific activity of 386 nmol of bilirubin/mg/h and compared with a purified preparation of rat testis HO-2 with a specific activity of 5,700. Using Western immunoblotting, rabbit HO-2 displayed intense cross-reactivity with antibody raised in rabbit to sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured rat HO-2, and had a substantially larger molecular weight than the rat HO-2 (42,000 versus 36,000). Rabbit HO-1 did not cross-react with antibody to rat HO-1 which was also raised in rabbit. Unlike the rat enzymes, rabbit HO-1 and HO-2 did not differ in thermolability. It is speculated that HO-1 in rat and rabbit, and possibly HO-2, have evolved from divergent evolution of a common ancestral gene(s).

Effect of endotoxin to differentially affect cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activities of untreated rats and animals induced with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene

The effect of endotoxin in decreasing the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of aniline, aminopyrine and ethoxycoumarin was examined in untreated rats, and in rats pretreated with either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. Ethoxycoumarin metabolism was determined at two substrate concentrations (5 microM and 500 microM) to determine the effect of endotoxin on the high and low affinity enzyme activities. In untreated animals, endotoxin depressed both aniline and ethoxycoumarin metabolism by the high and low affinity enzymes by approximately 70%, but aminopyrine was decreased by only 47%. In phenobarbital pretreated rats, endotoxin decreased enzyme activities less than in untreated animals. Aniline metabolism and low affinity ethoxycoumarin metabolism were decreased by only 24%, and aminopyrine metabolism was decreased by 35%. The high affinity ethoxycoumarin metabolism was least affected, being decreased by only 12%. In 3-methycholanthrene pretreated rats, aniline and ethoxycoumarin (500 microM) metabolism were decreased by approximately 45%, but aminopyrine metabolism was only decreased by 20%. In these animals, endotoxin did not significantly affect the activity of ethoxycoumarin metabolism assayed with the low substrate concentration. Endotoxin decreased total cytochrome P-450 level of untreated rats by 32%, of phenobarbital pretreated rats by 39%, and in 3-methylcholanthrene pretreated animals the decrease was only 21%. Heme oxygenase activity of untreated animals was induced most by endotoxin administration and least in phenobarbital treated rats. The data suggest that endotoxin may differentially affect the various isozymes of cytochrome P-450 associated with the metabolism of aniline, aminopyrine and ethoxycoumarin. The results also suggest that the isozymes associated with these activities in untreated, phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene pretreated rats may differ in their sensitivity to the effect of endotoxin.

[Activity of key enzymes of heme metabolism and the content of several hemoproteins in the liver of rats of various ages]

The activity of key enzymes of heme metabolism (delta-aminolevulinate synthase, EC 2.3.1.37, and heme oxygenase, EC 1.14.99.3) and the content of some hemoproteins were examined in the liver of male Wistar rats aged 1, 3 and 24 months. It is established that the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthase decreases when rats reach the age of 3 months and remains at the same level in rats aged 24 months. The content of microsomal cytochrome P450 and the activity of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase holoenzyme increase when rats reach the age of 3 months. The total tryptophan-2,3 dioxygenase activity is higher in animals aged 24 months as compared to those aged 1 month. The heme oxygenase activity and the content of microsomal cytochrome b5 do not change with age.

Effects of tin-porphyrins on developmental changes in hepatic cytochrome P450 content, selected P450-dependent drug-metabolizing enzyme activities and brain glutathione levels in the newborn rat

Sn-mesoporphyrin is considerably more effective than Sn-protoporphyrin in inhibiting bilirubin production in vivo, in the experimental animal. In this study the effects of Sn-mesoporphyrin, administered in doses ranging from 1 to 20 mumol/kg b.w., on the developmental patterns of hepatic cytochrome P450 content and cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism in rat neonates were examined at various time points during the 5-week period immediately after birth. No detrimental alterations in cytochrome P450 content or in cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism were observed. In addition no deleterious effects were noted on total glutathione content in brain of Sn-mesoporphyrin-treated animals. After single doses of Sn-protoporphyrin of 20, 50 or 100 mumol/kg b.w. were administered at birth, transient decreases in hepatic cytochrome P450 content (days 1 and 2), and ethylmorphine demethylase (days 2 and 5) and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase (days 1, 2 and 5) activities were observed in the period immediately after birth. However no sustained alterations in the developmental patterns of these enzymes were observed even at the highest dose (100 mumol/kg b.w.) of Sn-protoporphyrin administered. These findings indicate that in the doses utilized in this study both metalloporphyrins have no long-term effects on cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism. Furthermore, in doses up to 20 mumol/kg b.w., neither compound produced any short-term effects on hepatic cytochrome P450 content or functional activity in newborn rats.

Zinc protoporphyrin inhibits CO production in rats

We studied the effect of zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) on in vivo total bilirubin production, as measured by the excretion rate of carbon monoxide (VeCO), in adult rats. A single subcutaneous dose of ZnPP (40 mumol/kg) suppressed the VeCO between 2-12 h posttreatment, with maximum suppression of approximately 20% by 4 h. The heme oxygenase activity in the liver and spleen of the ZnPP-treated rats was significantly inhibited at 12 h compared with that of the controls. The in vitro inhibition of heme oxygenase activity by the addition of exogenous ZnPP to native rat liver and spleen tissue preparations was observed, as evidenced by suppressed CO production. This in vitro inhibition of heme oxygenase activity by ZnPP was further confirmed by finding decreased bilirubin formation, as measured directly by high-performance liquid chromatography. This study demonstrates that ZnPP can inhibit in vivo liver and spleen heme oxygenase activity and suppress CO production in the rat, as well as inhibit in vitro heme oxygenase activity in native rat tissues.

Sodium arsenite induced alterations in bilirubin excretion and heme metabolism

The acute administration of sodium arsenite (AsIII) to rats resulted in a biphasic alteration of the hepatic cytosolic "free" heme pool. The first stage was an increase in the cytosolic "free" heme without significant effects on the content of cytochrome P-450 or on bilirubin excretion. The second stage consisted of a continuous fall of the cytosolic "free" heme and of the content of cytochrome P-450. These changes were concurrent with an eight-fold increase in heme oxygenase activity and associated with marked elevations in the biliary excretion of bilirubin. The bile was collected from chronically cannulated rats to avoid artifacts related to anesthesia or post anesthetic effects. The rapid increase in biliary excretion of labeled heme degradation products indicated an increased breakdown of newly synthesized heme. Immunoelectrophoresis of bile proteins showed an altered pattern of bile protein excretion. The increased biliary haptoglobin suggested some hemolysis, while the reduction in the free immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretory component showed an AsIII-related decreased protein transport across hepatocytes to bile. Further research is required to assess the direct role of an increased heme degradation in the genesis of the hepatotoxic effects of AsIII.

Effect of chronic cysteamine treatment on mouse liver aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity

Patients receive chronic cysteamine in the management of nephropathic cystinosis. In a previous report our results indicated that acute cysteamine treatment inhibited cytochrome P-450. Cysteamine (85 mg/kg i.p.) was administered daily to female Swiss mice for 1.5 and 8.5 months. Cysteamine treatment (8.5 months) did not affect hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity compared with controls. A small decrease in liver AHH activity was seen after 1.5 months of treatment with cysteamine. Liver histology, body weight, liver and spleen weights, and serum aminotransferase activity after chronic and subchronic treatment did not differ from controls. Chronic in vivo cysteamine treatment, unlike acute in vitro treatment did not decrease AHH activity. Incubation of isolated murine hepatocytes with cysteamine significantly inhibited AHH activity compared with controls. The inhibition occurred in a concentration-related manner, with 65% inhibition at 8.8 mM (1 mg/mL) (equivalent to the predicted plasma concentration using the maximally tolerable human dose), and 100% inhibition at 44 mM (5 mg/mL). The concentrations used in vitro were not cytotoxic. This suggests that chronic cysteamine treatment may not result in drug interactions and that in vitro results are not always good indicators of in vivo effects.

Effects of oral administration of tin and zinc protoporphyrin on neonatal and adult rat tissue heme oxygenase activity

The purpose of this study was to investigate if oral metalloporphyrin treatment could suppress intestinal heme oxygenase (HO) activity and thus prevent HO-mediated heme degradation in this organ. Six hours after a single 40 mumol/kg oral dose of tin protoporphyrin (TP), zinc protoporphyrin (ZP), or heme to adult rats, no significant difference in the HO activity of the intestine was observed relative to control tissues. Moreover, the activity was not inhibited by in vitro exposure to 40 microM TP or ZP. Liver and spleen HO activity was also not significantly inhibited in vivo after oral administration of metalloporphyrins; however, in vitro exposure to TP or ZP decreased the HO activity of preparations from these organs significantly. Like adults, the intestinal HO activity of neonates was not inhibited effectively by oral administration of either metalloporphyrin. The results of subsequent in vitro exposure of control neonatal tissue preparations to ZP or TP was similar to those using adult tissue preparations. Even at 100 microM, only ZP seemed to have some in vitro inhibitory effect on the intestinal HO of suckling rats. We conclude that intestinal HO is less inhibitable by TP or ZP reaching the intestine via the stomach in concentrations at least 30-fold greater than those achieved after parenteral 40 mumol/kg doses, which cause significant hepatic and splenic HO inhibition. Intestinal absorption and enterohepatic circulation of heme, TP, and ZP do not seem to occur in amounts sufficient to consistently and significantly affect HO activity in liver or spleen.

Suppression of carbon monoxide excretion by zinc mesoporphyrin in adult Wistar rats: evidence for potent in vivo inhibition of bilirubin production

We studied the effect of zinc mesoporphyrin on the CO excretion rate (VeCO) and liver heme oxygenase activity of adult rats. A subcutaneous dose of 4 mumol/kg significantly lowered the VeCO between 4 and 12 hours after injection. The liver heme oxygenase activity of treated animals was significantly lower 12 hours after treatment. These findings demonstrate that zinc mesoporphyrin is a potent inhibitor of in vivo total bilirubin production, as measured by the VeCO.

Algal heme oxygenase from Cyanidium caldarium. Partial purification and fractionation into three required protein components

Enzymatic heme oxygenase activity has been partially purified from extracts of the unicellular red alga Cyanidium caldarium, and the macromolecular components have been separated into three protein fractions, referred to as Fractions I, II, and III, by serial column chromatography through DEAE-cellulose and Reactive Blue 2-Sepharose. Fraction I is retained by DEAE-cellulose at low salt concentration and eluted by 1 M NaCl. Fraction II is retained by Blue Sepharose at low salt concentration and eluted by 1 M NaCl. Fraction III is retained on 2',5'-ADP-agarose and eluted by 1 mM NADPH, while Fraction II is not retained on ADP-agarose. Fractions I-III, have Mr values of 22,000, 38,000, and 37,000, respectively (all +/- 2,000), as determined by Sephadex gel filtration chromatography. In vitro heme oxygenase activity requires the presence of all three fractions, plus substrate, O2, reduced pyridine nucleotide, and another reductant. Ascorbate, isoascorbate, and phenylenediamine serve equally well as the second reductant, but hydroquinone can also be used, with lower activity resulting. Fractions I-III are heat sensitive and inactive by Pronase digestion. Fraction I has a visible absorption spectrum similar to that of ferredoxin and is bleached by dithionite reduction or incubation with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Fraction I can be replaced by commercially available ferredoxin derived from the red alga Porphyra umbilicalis, and to a smaller extent, by spinach ferredoxin. Fraction III contains ferredoxin-linked cytochrome c reductase activity and can be partially replaced by spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase. Reconstituted heme oxygenase and ferredoxin-linked cytochrome c reductase activities are both abolished if Fraction I or III is preincubated with 0.1 mM p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, but heme oxygenase activity is only slightly affected if Fraction II is preincubated with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Preincubation of Fraction II with 0.5 mM diethylpyrocarbonate inactivates heme oxygenase in the reconstituted system, and 10 microM mesohemin partially protects this Fraction against diethylpyrocarbonate inactivation. Algal heme oxygenase is inhibited 80% by 2 microM Sn-protoporphyrin even in the presence of 20 microM mesohemin. Fraction II is rate limiting in unfractionated and reconstituted incubation mixtures. None of the three cell fractions could be replaced by bovine spleen microsomal heme oxygenase or NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.

Pharmacological and biological effects of tin-protoporphyrin on neonatal hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rats

Our study was undertaken to examine the pharmacological and biological effects of tin-protoporphyrin, a competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase, on 5- or 6-day-old homozygous (j/j) Gunn rats with hereditary unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. When j/j neonates were injected subcutaneously with 20 mumol of tin-protoporphyrin/kg of body weight, hepatic heme oxygenase activity decreased to 30% of the initial level 2 h after administration and remained low during the next 46 h. However, the reduction of serum bilirubin was more rapid and transient, reaching the minimum value (40% of the initial level) at 1 h and increasing thereafter at a rate almost comparable to that in nontreated j/j rats. The mortality rate of j/j rats was strikingly reduced by the administration of 1 to 100 mumol of tin-protoporphyrin/kg; the most effective dose was 5 mumol/kg (8% compared with 80% in non-treated j/j rats). However, the protective effect of tin-protoporphyrin on bilirubin cerebellopathy (cerebellar hypoplasia) was less marked than expected. Possible implications of our results are discussed.

Detection of two heme oxygenase isoforms in the human testis

This study shows heme oxygenase multiplicity is common to rat and human tissues. The isozymes in man and rat, however, are heterogenous proteins that share certain characteristics. Two forms of heme oxygenase, HO-1 and HO-2, were identified in human testis. HO-2 form was the prevalent form. Human and rat HO-1 differed in chromatographic behavior and molecular weight; human HO-1 was a larger molecule (35,400 vs 30,000). The two forms, however, were similar in that immunochemically human HO-1 exhibited reactivity toward antibody to rat HO-1. Human and rat HO-2 also were dissimilar in chromatographic behavior and showed only a weak immunological cross-reactivity. Human and rat HO-1 were essentially the same size. As in rat organs, the microsomal cytochrome P-450 content in human testis was reciprocal to heme oxygenase activity.

Sn-protoporphyrin lowers serum bilirubin levels, decreases biliary bilirubin output, enhances biliary heme excretion and potently inhibits hepatic heme oxygenase activity in normal human subjects

Sn-protoporphyrin, a potent competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of heme to bile pigment, was administered to 10 normal volunteers: 8 males and 2 females. A significant decrease in the levels of serum (mean decrease; 38%) and biliary bilirubin (mean decrease: 47%) was demonstrated in all 10 subjects. The decrease in these parameters lasted for a minimum of 4 days after administration of the metalloporphyrin. Sn-protoporphyrin also facilitated the excretion of endogenous heme in bile during the 24- to 48-hr period following administration of the compound. The metalloporphyrin was rapidly cleared from plasma with a half-life of 3.4 hr. A small amount (3 to 6%) of Sn-protoporphyrin was excreted in both urine and bile. The activity of microsomal heme oxygenase was measured in five human liver samples freshly obtained at the time of cholecystectomy and varied from approximately 2 to 4 nmoles bilirubin formed per mg protein per hour. The addition of Sn-protoporphyrin to microsomal heme oxygenase isolated from these liver samples resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the activity of this enzyme at concentrations of the metalloporphyrin in the range of 10(-7) to 10(-9) M. The findings reported here provide strong evidence that the suppression of biliary and serum bilirubin levels and the enhancement of heme excretion in the bile of the normal volunteers examined in this study were due to inhibition of physiological rates of heme oxidation activity by the synthetic heme analog, Sn-protoporphyrin.

The effect of hypoxia on hepatic cytochromes and heme turnover in rats in vivo

We evaluated the effect of hypoxia (7% v/v) on hepatic heme turnover in vivo and microsomal heme protein content in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatic heme protein turnover, measured as 14CO-production during continuous infusion of 5-14C-aminolevulinic acid, a precursor of nonerythrogenic heme, was decreased 60% during hypoxia and returned to control levels promptly after reoxygenation. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in hypoxic and 24-h reoxygenated animals. We conclude that normobaric hypoxia decreases hepatic cytochrome P-450 which could contribute to decreased drug metabolism in hypoxia. This decrease is probably due to heme oxygenase-independent breakdown of hepatic heme.

Rat liver cytochrome P-450b, P-420b, and P-420c are degraded to biliverdin by heme oxygenase

In this report we provide data, for the first time, demonstrating the conversion of the heme moiety of certain cytochrome P-450 and P-420 preparations, to biliverdin, catalyzed by heme oxygenase. We have used purified preparations of cytochromes P-450c, P-450b, P-450/P-420c, or P-450/P-420b as substrates in a heme oxygenase assay system reconstituted with heme oxygenase isoforms, HO-2 or HO-1, NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase, biliverdin reductase, NADPH, and Emulgen 911. With cytochrome P-450b or P-450/P-420b preparations, a near quantitative conversion of degraded heme to bile pigments was observed. In the case of cytochrome P-450/P-420c approximately 70% of the degraded heme was accounted for as bilirubin but only cytochrome P-420c was appreciably degraded. The role of heme oxygenase in this reaction was supported by the following observations: (i) bilirubin formation was not observed when heme oxygenase was omitted from the assay system; (ii) the rate of degradation of the heme moiety was at least threefold greater with heme oxygenase and NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase than that observed with reductase alone; and (iii) the presence of Zn- or Sn-protoporphyrins (2 microM), known competitive inhibitors of heme oxygenase, resulted in 70-90% inhibition of bilirubin formation.

Effect of diethyl maleate on hepatic ornithine decarboxylase

Diethyl maleate (DEM), a well-known glutathione (GSH) depletor, causes a dose-dependent increase in hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity as well as heme oxygenase activity in rats. Considering the important role ODC has in polyamine biosynthesis in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli, further extensive studies on the effect of DEM on ODC in relation to its GSH-depleting effect were carried out. Specifically, concomitant with the profound decrease in GSH content, the higher dose of DEM (1284 mg/kg) caused a marked increase in ODC activity (about 1000 times that of the control) at 12 hr after its administration. DEM at this dose also caused a marked increase in heme oxygenase activity, but the effects on cytochrome P-450 content and aminopyrine demethylase activity were less extensive. The increases in ODC and heme oxygenase activities evoked by DEM were almost completely blocked by pretreatment of rats with either actinomycin D or cycloheximide. Parallel to the increase in ODC activity, DEM caused a profound increase in putrescine content in the liver, while the agent reduced spermine content. The administrations of alpha-difluoromethylornithine and 1,3-diaminopropane resulted in the inhibition of DEM-mediated induction of ODC, but not heme oxygenase. In contrast, methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) inhibited the induction of both ODC and heme oxygenase evoked by DEM. The DEM-induced ODC exhibited two phases of decay with the prolonged half-lives of 26 and 223 min. Additionally, the elution profile from DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography of cytoplasmic fraction from DEM-treated rat liver exhibited two peaks of ODC activity. These findings add new insight into the biochemical effect of DEM on hepatic polyamine metabolism in addition to its GSH-depleting effect.

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.

Assessment of arsenic effects on cytosolic heme status using tryptophan pyrrolase as an index

Acute arsenic (As) administration produced in rat liver a decrease in the heme saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase (TP), accompanied by dose-related increases in 5-aminolevulinate synthetase (ALAS) and heme oxygenase (HO) activities, along with a corresponding decrease in cytochrome P-450 (P-450) concentration. The relationship between heme synthesis and degradation was altered as a result of As treatment. The magnitude of these effects was related to the oxidation state of arsenic, sodium arsenite (AsIII) being more potent than sodium arsenate (AsV). These results support the contention that the heme saturation of TP is sensitive to treatments that modify liver heme concentration. The increase in HO activity produced by As appears to be mediated by a mechanism largely or entirely independent of heme. The main effects of continuous exposure to AsIII were an initial decrease in the heme saturation of TP, which remained constant during the period of treatment, and an initial increase in ALAS activity, which after ten days of exposure dropped somewhat but remained above control values. No significant effects on HO or P-450 concentration were observed. These results were interpreted as indicative that a new balance between heme synthesis and degradation had been reached and that an adaptive response to the subchronic effects of AsIII was taking place.