Heme oxygenase-1: function, regulation, and implication of a novel stress-inducible protein in oxidant-induced lung injury.

The magnitude ofHO-1 induction after oxidative stress and the wide distribution of this enzyme in systemic tissues coupled with the intriguing biological activities of the catalytic byproducts, carbon monoxide, iron, and bilirubin makes HO-1 a highly attractive and interesting candidate stress-response protein which may play key role(s) in mediating protection against oxidant-mediated lung injury.