CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The special issue ?Heme-Oxygenase-1? includes original research articles and reviews that are aimed at understanding the role of Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in several pathophysiological conditions, specially addressing those involving inflammation and oxidative damage. Overall, the seven contributions of this Forum Issue highlight the dual role that HO-1 displays in cells and tissues, and address the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which HO-1 participates in the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome, obesity, cancer and neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and inflammatory bowel diseases. Indeed, the work by Marelli & Alavenna thoroughly describes evidence of the anti-inflammatory properties of HO-1 in gut homeostasis, with potential to attenuate inflammatory bowel diseases. The reviews by Bellner and col, Peterson and col and Waldman and col show the mostly beneficial effect of HO-1 expression in the attenuation of metabolic syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Contrariwise, Tavitian and col demonstrate in their original article that the overexpression of HO-1 in astroglia, models neurodegenerative (Parkinson-like) or neurodevelopmental (Schizophrenia-like) behaviours in mice, depending on the timing of expression of HO-1 during lifespan. The original article by Anselmino and col demonstrate the role of HO-1 on the tropism of prostate cancer cells to bone, thus showing the involvement of this protein in the communication between bone and cancer cells. Finally, the review by Medina and col elaborates on the classic and ultimate knowledge of HO-1 transcriptional regulation as well as the mechanisms of alternative splicing and posttranscriptional regulation of Hmox1 gene expression which have been little explored.