Novel Interplay between p53 and HO-1 in Embryonic Stem Cells.

Stem cells genome safeguarding requires strict oxidative stress control. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and p53 are relevant components of the cellular defense system. p53 controls cellular response to multiple types of harmful stimulus, including oxidative stress. Otherwise, besides having a protective role, HO-1 is also involved in embryo development and in embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiation. Although both proteins have been extensively studied, little is known about their relationship in stem cells. The aim of this work is to explore HO-1-p53 interplay in ES cells. We studied HO-1 expression in p53 knockout (KO) ES cells and we found that they have higher HO-1 protein levels but similar HO-1 mRNA levels than the wild type (WT) ES cell line. Furthermore, cycloheximide treatment increased HO-1 abundance in p53 KO cells suggesting that p53 modulates HO-1 protein stability. Notably, H2O2 treatment did not induce HO-1 expression in p53 KO ES cells. Finally, SOD2 protein levels are also increased while Sod2 transcripts are not in KO cells, further suggesting that the p53 null phenotype is associated with a reinforcement of the antioxidant machinery. Our results demonstrate the existence of a connection between p53 and HO-1 in ES cells, highlighting the relationship between these stress defense pathways.

The granulopoietic cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) induces pain: analgesia by rutin.

Rutin is a glycone form of the flavonol quercetin and it reduces inflammatory pain in animal models. Therapy with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known by the pain caused as its main side effect. The effect of rutin and its mechanisms of action were evaluated in a model of hyperalgesia induced by G-CSF in mice. The mechanical hyperalgesia induced by G-CSF was reduced by treatment with rutin in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with both rutin + morphine or rutin + indomethacin, at doses that are ineffectual per se, significantly reduced the pain caused by G-CSF. The nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-protein kinase G (PKG)-ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) signaling pathway activation is one of the analgesic mechanisms of rutin. Rutin also reduced the pro-hyperalgesic and increased anti-hyperalgesic cytokine production induced by G-CSF. Furthermore, rutin inhibited the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB), which might explain the inhibition of the cytokine production. Treatment with rutin upregulated the decreased mRNA expression of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) combined with enhancement of the mRNA expression of the Nrf2 downstream target heme oxygenase (HO-1). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment with rutin did not alter the mobilization of neutrophils induced by G-CSF. The analgesia by rutin can be explained by: NO-cGMP-PKG-KATP channel signaling activation, inhibition of NFκB and triggering the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. The present study demonstrates rutin as a promising pharmacological approach to treat the pain induced by G-CSF without impairing its primary therapeutic benefit of mobilizing hematopoietic progenitor cells into the blood.

Heme oxygenase-1/biliverdin/carbon monoxide pathway downregulates hypernociception in rats by a mechanism dependent on cGMP/ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To investigate the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin (BVD) in the zymosan-induced TMJ arthritis in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mechanical threshold was assessed before and 4 h after TMJ arthritis induction in rats. Cell influx, myeloperoxidase activity, and histological changes were measured in the TMJ lavages and tissues. Trigeminal ganglion and periarticular tissues were used for HO-1, TNF-α, and IL-1ß mRNA time course expression and immunohistochemical analyses. Hemin (0.1, 0.3, or 1 mg kg-1), DMDC (0.025, 0.25, or 2.5 µmol kg-1), biliverdin (1, 3, or 10 mg kg-1), or ZnPP-IX (1, 3 or 9 mg kg-1) were injected (s.c.) 60 min before zymosan. ODQ (12.5 µmol kg-1; s.c.) or glibenclamide (10 mg kg-1; i.p.) was administered 1 h and 30 min prior to DMDC (2.5 µmol kg-1; s.c), respectively. RESULTS: Hemin (1 mg kg-1), DMDC (2.5 µmol kg-1), and BVD (10 mg kg-1) reduced hypernociception and leukocyte migration, which ZnPP (3 mg kg-1) enhanced. The effects of DMDC were counteracted by ODQ and glibenclamide. The HO-1, TNF-α, and IL-1ß mRNA expression and immunolabelling increased. CONCLUSIONS: HO-1/BVD/CO pathway activation provides anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects on the zymosan-induced TMJ hypernociception in rats.

Carbon monoxide impairs mitochondria-dependent endosomal maturation and antigen presentation in dendritic cells.

Heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) prevents T cell-mediated inflammatory disease by producing carbon monoxide (CO) and impairing DC immunogenicity. However, the cellular mechanisms causing this inhibition are unknown. Here, we show that CO impairs mitochondrial function in DCs by reducing both the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production, and resembling the effect of a nonlethal dose of a classical mitochondria uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP). Moreover, both CO and CCCP reduced cargo transport, endosome-to-lysosome fusion, and antigen processing, dampening the production of peptide-MHC complexes on the surface of DCs. As a result, the inhibition of naive CD4(+) T-cell priming was observed. Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction in DCs also significantly reduced CD8(+) T cell-dependent type 1 diabetes onset in vivo. These results showed for the first time that CO interferes with T-cell priming by blocking an unknown mitochondria-dependent antigen-processing pathway in mature DC. Interestingly, other immune functions in DCs such as antigen capture, cytokine secretion, costimulation, and cell survival relied on glycolysis, suggesting that oxidative phosphorylation might only play a key role for the maturation of antigen-containing endosomes. In conclusion, CO produced by HO-1 impairs antigen-dependent inflammation by regulating DC immunogenicity by a mitochondria-dependent mechanism.

Heme oxygenase-1 is expressed in carotid atherosclerotic plaques infected by Helicobacter pylori and is more prevalent in asymptomatic subjects.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is not well established what are the features, if any, that distinguish symptomatic from asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Inducible heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a component of cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. We aimed to assess the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and the expression of HO-1 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques of patients with and without prior neurologic symptoms attributable to the operated artery. METHODS: We examined 25 symptomatic and 23 asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques removed during endarterectomy and 7 normal carotid arteries obtained at autopsy. We investigated the presence of H pylori DNA in the vessel wall and performed immunohistochemical detection of HO-1. RESULTS: H pylori DNA was present in 28 plaques and HO-1 was expressed in 30 plaques. HO-1 was found in 27 H pylori-positive specimens but in only 3 H pylori-negative specimens (P<0.001). All 7 normal carotid arteries were negative for both H pylori and HO-1. Although 82% of asymptomatic specimens were positive for H pylori and 87% for HO-1, only 36% of symptomatic specimens were positive for both H pylori and HO-1 (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a strong association between H pylori infection and expression of HO-1 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques. There was a substantial prevalence of these features in specimens obtained from asymptomatic subjects.