Enhanced translation of heme oxygenase-2 preserves human endothelial cell viability during hypoxia.

ABSTRACT: Heme oxygenases (HOs) -1 and -2 catalyze the breakdown of heme to release carbon monoxide, biliverdin, and ferrous iron, which may preserve cell function during oxidative stress. HO-1 levels decrease in endothelial cells exposed to hypoxia, whereas the effect of hypoxia on HO-2 expression is unknown. The current study was carried out to determine if hypoxia alters HO-2 protein levels in human endothelial cells and whether this enzyme plays a role in preserving their viability during hypoxic stress. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), and human blood outgrowth endothelial cells were exposed to 21% or 1% O(2) for 48 or 16 h in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (10 ng/ml) or H(2)O(2) (100 microm). In all three endotheli

SUBMITTER: He JZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2843195 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature