Chamber-specific Regulation of Heme Oxygenase-1 (Heat Shock Protein 32) in Right-sided Congestive Heart Failure

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a stress protein (HSP 32) and, together with HO-2, catalyses oxidation of the heme molecule to generate carbon monoxide, a gas with vasodilatory properties, and bilirubin, an antioxidant. Right-sided heart failure (RHF) resulted in a two-fold increase in the HO-1 transcript (1.8 kb) in the right ventricle (RV) of RHF dogs compared to that of controls. In contrast, the left ventricle showed no increase in HO-1 mRNA in RHF. The change in HO was unique to HO-1, because neither the HO-2 transcripts (1.3 and 1.9 kb) nor the HSP 70 mRNA was altered in either ventricle. This increase in HO-1 mRNA in RV was accompanied by a two-fold increase in immunoreactive HO-1 protein, as judged by Western blot analysis, as well as by a significant increase in cGMP levels. There was, however, no significant increase in RV total nitric oxide synthase activity in RHF. Furthermore, since norepinephrine infusion also increased HO-1 transcript and protein levels, the HO-1 system probably was induced in RHF by the increased interstitial norepinephrine levels known to occur in failing myocardium. This differential regulation and induction of HO-1 gene in the failing ventricle might be one of the defense mechanisms by which the heart attempts to protect from stress caused by congestive heart failure.