Role of heme oxygenase- 1 in iron metabolism

Iron is a trace mineral essential for a host of life processes, including oxidation and cellular respiration. Iron deficiency causes cell growth arrest or apoptosis. Iron overload induces oxidative stress in cells which injuries the cell membrane, protein and nucleic acid. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) catalyzing heme into iron is the main source of iron recycle. Thus HO-1 plays a very important role in iron metabolism. Key words: Heme oxygenase-1; Iron metabolism; Ferroportin; Ferritin; Hepcidin