Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) generiertes Biliverdin schützt vor Kolitis

Background The cytoprotective role of HO-1 has been observed in a wide variety of inflammatory diseases e.g. sepsis, arteriosclerosis, acute renal injury and transplant rejection. It is believed that the anti-inflammatory effects of HO-1 are mediated by the enzymatic products biliverdin/bilirubin, carbon monoxide (CO) and iron/ferritin. HO-1 induction in cultured enterocytes leads to inhibition of nitric oxide synthase activity; a pathway believed to play a crucial role in the mucosal injury associated with inflammatory bowel disease. We therefore tested whether induction of HO-1 can influence experimental colitis.