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Induction of heme oxygenase in intestinal epithelial cells: studies in Caco-2 cell cultures

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Abstract

Enterally administered, heme is a good source of iron in humans and other animals, but the metabolism of heme by enterocytes has not been fully characterized. Caco-2 cells in culture provide a useful model for studying cells that resemble small intestinal epithelium, both morphologically and functionally. In this paper we show that heme oxygenase, the rate-controlling enzyme of heme catabolism, is present in abundance in Caco-2 cells, and that levels of its mRNA and activity can be increased by exposure of the cells to heme or metal ions (cadmium, cobalt). Caco-2 cells also contain biliverdin reductase activity which, in the basal state, is similar to that of heme oxygenase (approximately 40 pmole of product per mg protein per minute); however, when heme oxygenase is induced, biliverdin reductase may become rate-limiting for bilirubin production.

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Abbreviations

BVR:

biliverdin reductase

DMEM:

Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium

DMSO:

dimethyl sulfoxide

HO:

heme oxygenase

1xSSC:

a solution of 0.015 M sodium citrate/0.15 sodium chloride

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 01655, Worcester, MA, USA

    Julia W. Cable, Edward E. Cable & Herbert L. Bonkovsky

  2. Center for Study of Disorders of Iron and Porphyrin Metabolism, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 01655, Worcester, MA, USA

    Julia W. Cable, Edward E. Cable & Herbert L. Bonkovsky

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  1. Julia W. Cable
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  2. Edward E. Cable
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  3. Herbert L. Bonkovsky
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Cable, J.W., Cable, E.E. & Bonkovsky, H.L. Induction of heme oxygenase in intestinal epithelial cells: studies in Caco-2 cell cultures. Mol Cell Biochem 129, 93–98 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926580

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926580

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