Heme oxygenase (HO) enzymes are responsible for the main oxidative step in heme degradation, generating equimolar amounts of free iron, biliverdin and carbon monoxide. HO-1 is induced as a crucial stress response protein, playing protective roles in physiologic and pathological conditions, due to its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. The mechanisms behind HO-1-mediated protection are being explored by different studies, affecting cell fate through multiple ways, such as reduction in intracellular levels of heme and ROS, transcriptional regulation, and through its byproducts generation. In this review we focus on the interplay between HO-1 and immune-related signaling pathways, which culminate in the activation of transcription factors important in immune responses and inflammation. We also discuss the dual interaction of HO-1 and inflammatory mediators that govern resolution and tissue damage. We highlight the dichotomy of HO-1 in innate and adaptive immune cells development and activation in different disease contexts. Finally, we address different known anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals that are now being described to modulate HO-1, and the possible contribution of HO-1 in their anti-inflammatory effects.

血红素加氧酶 (H2O) 酶负责血红素降解中的主要氧化步骤，产生等摩尔量的游离铁、胆绿素和一氧化碳。HO-1 作为一种重要的应激反应蛋白被诱导，由于其抗氧化、抗凋亡和抗炎作用，在生理和病理条件下发挥保护作用。不同的研究正在探索 HO-1 介导的保护背后的机制，通过多种方式影响细胞命运，例如降低血红素和 ROS 的细胞内水平、转录调控以及通过其副产物的产生。在这篇综述中，我们关注 HO-1 和免疫相关信号通路之间的相互作用，这些信号通路最终会激活对免疫反应和炎症很重要的转录因子。我们还讨论了 HO-1 和控制分辨率和组织损伤的炎症介质的双重相互作用。我们强调了 HO-1 在不同疾病背景下的先天性和适应性免疫细胞发育和激活中的二分法。最后，我们讨论了现在被描述为调节 HO-1 的不同已知抗炎药物，以及 HO-1 在其抗炎作用中的可能贡献。