Haem oxygenase 1 gene induction by glucose deprivation is mediated by reactive oxygen species via the mitochondrial electron-transport chain

Abstract

Glucose depletion results in cellular stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which evokes adaptive and protective responses. One such protective response is the induction of haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which catalyses the rate-limiting step in haem degradation, liberating iron, CO and biliverdin. The present study evaluated the role of ROS and the mitochondrial electron-transport chain in the induction of HO-1 by glucose deprivation in HepG2 hepatoma cells. Either N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, or deferoxamine, an iron chelator, resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of HO-1 mRNA and protein induction during glucose deprivation, suggesting a redox- and iron-dependent mechanism. Inhibitors of electron-transport chain complex III, antimycin A and myxothiazol, the ATP synthase inhibitor oligomycin and ATP depletion with 2-deoxyglucose or glucosamine also blocked HO-1 induction. To address the involvement of ROS further, specifically H2O2, we showed that overexpression of catalase completely blocked HO-1 activation by glucose deprivation. In contrast, inhibition of nuclear factor κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase A, protein kinase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, cyclo-oxygenase or cytosolic phospholipase A2, did not prevent HO-1 induction. These results demonstrate that activation of the HO-1 gene by glucose deprivation is mediated by a ‘glucose metabolic response’ pathway via generation of ROS and that the pathway requires a functional electron-transport chain.