Resumen
Heme, the iron-porphyrin coordination complex, released from the degradation of hemoproteins, is a strong prooxidant. It is enzymatically degraded by heme oxygenase to free iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin. Biliverdin and its reduced metabolite bilirubin are two potent physiological antioxidants. Here we show a progressive increase of steady-state levels of the mRNA encoding the inducible isoform of this enzyme (heme oxygenase-1) in the rat liver during aging. We had previously reported that aging is associated with increased activation of the nuclear factor κB (NFκB). We now provide evidence to establish that overexpression of NFκB in transfected liver-derived HepG2 cells can cause a marked induction of the endogenous heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and activation of the cotransfected HO-1 gene promoter. Taken together, these results support the conclusion that enhanced oxidative stress during aging is accompanied by compensatory induction of the antioxidant enzyme HO-1 through activation of the NFκB pathway. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Idioma original | English (US) |
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Páginas (desde-hasta) | 49-60 |
Número de páginas | 12 |
Publicación | Mechanisms of Ageing and Development |
Volumen | 114 |
N.º | 1 |
DOI | |
Estado | Published - feb 22 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Developmental Biology