The relevance of the heme oxygenase system in alleviating diabetes-related hormonal and metabolic disorders

Heme oxygenase (HO) is an enzyme that catalyzes heme degradation. HO dysfunction is linked to various pathological conditions, including diabetes. Results of animal studies indicate that HO expression and activity are downregulated in experimentally induced diabetes. This is associated with severe hormonal and metabolic disturbances. However, these pathological changes have been shown to be reversed by therapy with HO activators. In animals with experimentally induced diabetes, HO was upregulated by genetic manipulation or by pharmacological activators such as hemin and cobalt protoporphyrin. Induction of HO alleviated elevated blood glucose levels and improved insulin action, among other effects. This effect resulted from beneficial changes in the main insulin-sensitive tissues, i.e., the skeletal muscle, the liver, and the adipose tissue. The action of HO activators was due to positive alterations in pivotal signaling molecules and regulatory enzymes. Furthermore, diabetes-related oxidative and inflammatory stress was reduced due to HO induction. HO upregulation was effective in various animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These data suggest the possibility of testing HO activators as a potential tool for alleviating hormonal and metabolic disorders in people with diabetes.