Abstract
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HEME-DERIVED BILINS: NEW THERAPEUTICS FOR INFLAMMATORY DISEASES JON Y. TAKEMOTO, PH.D. Professor of Biology; Department of Biology, Utah State University
In mammals, heme-derived bilins are most often associated with red blood cell destruction and hemoglobin degradation in the spleen and skin bruises. Bilins result from cleavage of heme by the enzyme heme oxygenase to generate biliverdin, bilirubin, and other bilins that are eventually eliminated in bile, feces and urine. The overall process reduces levels of heme which is toxic when accumulated. Bilins also occur - often in abundance - in microbes, plants and other animals where they play many roles. Discoveries of new and diverse roles for bilins are emerging such as sensing and JDWKHULQJ OLJKW UHJXODWLQJ JURZWK DQG DJLQJ DQG F\WRSURWHFWLRQ DJDLQVW LQIHFWLRQ DQG LQÀDPPDWLRQ and bilins are being explored for beneficial uses in medicine and agriculture. Most prominent is biliverdin which has protective effects against several diseases and inflammatory conditions. Discussed will be the experimental therapeutic effects of biliverdin (including against diabetes) in animal models, the discovery of its bilin analog mesobiliverdin, and cytoprotection by these bilins of pancreatic islets in islet transplantation procedures.
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