Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 During Endotoxemia Is Downregulated by Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 generates CO, a gas with vasodilatory properties, during heme metabolism. HO-1 is expressed highly in vascular tissue after endotoxin stimulation, and generation of CO through the HO-1 pathway contributes to the hemodynamic compromise of endotoxic shock. Shock related to endotoxemia is an immune-mediated process that involves the generation of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta. Because transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 is a modulator of immune-mediated inflammatory responses and it blocks the hypotension of endotoxic shock, we determined whether TGF-beta 1 could be used to reduce expression of HO-1 in vascular tissue and smooth muscle cells. In a rat model of endotoxic shock, lipopolysaccharide-induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression was reduced by TGF-beta 1 in highly vascularized tissue, such as heart and lung, by Northern and Western analysis. Furthermore, TGF-beta 1 downregulated HO-1 mRNA after its induction by IL-1 beta in vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. TGF-beta 1 also decreased HO-1 but not HO-2 protein expression in these cells. TGF-beta 1 decreased HO enzyme activity induced in IL-1 beta-treated vascular smooth muscle cells to a level not different from that in vehicle-treated cells. These studies suggest that this downregulation of HO-1 mRNA and protein expression and decrease in IL-1 beta-induced HO enzyme activity may contribute to the beneficial effect of TGF-beta 1 on endotoxic shock. (Circ Res. 1998;83:396-403.)