Abstract
The heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) promoter contains a (GT)n microsatellite DNA, and the number of GT repeats can influence the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. We elucidated the effect of this polymorphism on endothelial cells isolated from newborns of different genotypes.
On the basis of HO-1 expression, we classified the HO-1 promoter alleles into 3 groups: short (S) (most active), medium (moderately active), and long (least active). The presence of the S allele led to higher basal HO-1 expression and stronger induction in response to HO-1 inductors.
Cells carrying the S allele survived better under oxidative stress, proliferated more efficiently and produced lower amounts of some proinflammatry mediators. The (GT)n promoter polymorphism significantly modulates a cytoprotective, proangiogenic and antiinflammatory functions of HO-1 in human endothelium.