Catalytically inactive heme oxygenase-2 mutant is cytoprotective

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in heme degradation, producing iron, carbon monoxide, and bilirubin/biliverdin. HO consists of two isozymes: HO-1, which is an oxidative stress-response protein, and HO-2, which is constitutively expressed. HO-2 accounts for most HO activity within the nervous system. Its posttranslational modifications and/or interactions with other proteins make HO-2 a unique regulator of cellular homeostasis. Our previous results revealed that brain infarct volume was enlarged in HO-2 knockout mice. A similar neuroprotective role of HO-2 was shown using primary cortical neurons. To better understand the neuroprotective mechanism of HO-2, we used a catalytically inactive mutant, HO-2(H45A), and investigated its cellular effects in response to hemin and hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity. We observed that HO-2(WT) overexpression in the HEK293 cell lines became less sensitive to hemin, whereas the inactive mutant HO-2(H45A) was more sensitive to hemin as compared to control. Interestingly, HO-2(WT)- and HO-2(H45A)-overexpressing cells were both protected against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and had less oxidatively modified proteins as compared to control cells. These data indicate that when HO-2 cannot metabolize the prooxidant heme, more cytotoxicity is found, whereas, interestingly, the catalytically inactive HO-2(H45A) was also able to protect cells against oxidative stress injury. These results suggest the multiplicity of action of the HO-2 protein itself. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.