A Journey into the Clinical Relevance of Heme Oxygenase 1 for Human Inflammatory Disease and Viral Clearance: Why Does It Matter on the COVID-19 Scene?

• Published in: Antioxidants Vol. 11; no. 2; p. 276
• Main Authors: Toro, Ayelen, Ruiz, María Sol, Lage-Vickers, Sofia, Sanchis, Pablo, Sabater, Agustina, Pascual, Gaston, Seniuk, Rocio, Cascardo, Florencia, Ledesma-Bazan, Sabrina, Vilicich, Felipe, Vazquez, Elba, Gueron, Geraldine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Antiviral activity; Biliverdin; Carbon monoxide; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Ebola virus; Fatalities; Heart diseases; Heme; heme oxygenase 1; Homeostasis; human immunodeficiency virus; Infectious diseases; Inflammatory diseases; influenza A virus; Interferon; Iron; Kinases; Middle East respiratory syndrome; Nervous system; Oxygenase; Renal failure; respiratory syncytial virus; Review; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Viral infections; Viruses; China; COVID-19; Ebola virus; SARS-CoV-2; Hepatitis virus; human immunodeficiency virus; Zika virus; Dengue virus; respiratory syncytial virus; heme oxygenase 1; influenza A virus
• ISSN: 2076-3921; 2076-3921
• DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020276

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation, is involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, exerting a cytoprotective role by its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory functions. HO-1 and its end products, biliverdin, carbon monoxide and free iron (Fe ), confer cytoprotection against inflammatory and oxidative injury. Additionally, HO-1 exerts antiviral properties against a diverse range of viral infections by interfering with replication or activating the interferon (IFN) pathway. Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), are characterized by systemic hyperinflammation, which, in some cases, leads to severe or fatal symptoms as a consequence of respiratory failure, lung and heart damage, kidney failure, and nervous system complications. This review summarizes the current research on the protective role of HO-1 in inflammatory diseases and against a wide range of viral infections, positioning HO-1 as an attractive target to ameliorate clinical manifestations during COVID-19.