ABSTRACT
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of pro-oxidant heme to carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin. During oxidative stress induced organ injury, HO-1 is often induced. The beneficial effects of HO-1 expression and its by-products provide anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Beyond its enzymatic activity, HO-1 exerts non-canonic signaling cascades through its various binding partners and different post-translational processing which leads to its translocation to different subcellular compartments and functions. In mammalian kidney, nephron is constituted with various cellular compartments including tubule cells, glomerular podocytes, mesangial cells and endothelial cells, and resident myeloid system for functional homeostasis. HO-1 plays important roles in mitochondria quality control via its action on mitochondria biogenesis, bioenergetics, dynamics, and autophagy as dysfunctional mitochondria is involved various kidney diseases such as acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, and glomerulonephritis. In this chapter, we discuss how HO-1 performs it function and serves as novel therapeutics for organ injury and repair.
