1. Free heme triggers the exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies in endothelial cells and causes vascular occlusion in sickle cell mouse models.
2. Heme activates endothelial cells through TLR4 signaling, inducing the rapid expression of P-selectin and von Willebrand factor.
3. Inhibiting heme detoxification or TLR4 signaling prevents heme-induced vascular stasis, suggesting potential new therapeutic strategies for sickle cell disease.
7. Hypothesis:
HO-1 inhibits vaso-occlusion in
transgenic sickle mice in response
to hypoxia-reoxygenation.
8. Murine Model of Vaso-occlusion
• Normal and transgenic sickle mice implanted with dorsal
skin fold chambers
• Wait 3 days and select and map flowing venules at
baseline
• Expose mice to 1 hour of hypoxia (7% O2) followed by
re-oxygenation in room air
• After 1 and 4 hours, re-examine the same mapped
venules, count how many vessels become static
(no flow), and calculate percent stasis
9. Stasis occurs in the subcutaneous venules inside the
dorsal skin fold chamber of transgenic sickle mice,
but not normal mice after hypoxia and reoxygenation
Belcher et al. JCI 2006; 116; 808-816.
11. HMOX1 Gene Transfer using a
Sleeping Beauty Transposase with an Albumin Promoter
Increases Hepatic HO-1 Activity 3-Fold in Sickle Mice
150 *
**
Bilirubin (pmol/mg protein)
100
50
0
Control LRS wt-HO-1 ns-HO-1 Hemin
12. HO-1 Overexpression in the Liver of Sickle Mice
Inhibits Hypoxia-induced Vascular Stasis in the Skin
25
20
Mean % Stasis
15
10
*
5
*
0
Control LRS wt-HO-1 ns-HO-1 Hemin
13. Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Vaso-occlusion:
A Vicious Cycle Inhibited by HO-1
X
Activated
Leukocytes
Hemin
T
MetHb
HO-1
Hb
Hemin
Sickle RBC
Hemolysis
MetHb
Hb
X
Reactive
Oxygen HO-1
Species NF-kB
Reperfusion Activation
Activated Endothelium
Normal Endothelium
Vaso-occlusion Endothelial Cell Adhesion
& Ischemia Molecule Expression
RBC & Leukocyte
Adhesion
14. Can plasma hemoglobin and
hemin induce vascular stasis in
sickle mice without hypoxia-
reoxygenation?
15. Experimental Outline
NY1DD transgenic sickle mice and C57 normal mice
implanted with dorsal skin fold chambers
Wait 3 days, select and map flowing venules at baseline
Infuse stroma-free hemoglobin, hemin, water to induce
hemolysis, or saline
After 1 and 4 hours, re-examine the same mapped
venules, count how many vessels become static
(no flow) and calculate percent stasis
16. Hemoglobin and Hemin Infusion Do Not
Trigger Vascular Stasis in C57 Mice
50%
40%
30%
Stasis (%)
Saline
HbA
20%
Hemin
10%
0%
0 1 2 3 4
Time After Infusion (hours)
17. Hemoglobin, Hemin and Water Infusion
Trigger Vascular Stasis in Sickle Mice
50%
40%
Saline
30% Saline
Saline
Stasis (%)
HbA
HbA
20% Hemin
Hemin
Water
10%
0%
0 1 2 3 4
Time After Infusion (hours)
42. Conclusions
HO-1 upregulation in sickle mice inhibits vascular stasis induced by
hypoxia-reoxygenation.
Heme, released from methemoglobin, elicits vascular stasis in
transgenic sickle mice, but not normal C57 mice.
Hemin triggers rapid Weibel-Palade body P-selectin and von
Willebrand factor exocytosis on endothelium.
P-selectin is necessary for hemin-induced vascular stasis in sickle
mice.
TLR4 signaling plays a critical role in Weibel-Palade body exocytosis
and vaso-occlusion in sickle cell disease.
43. Speculation
Removal and detoxification of hemoglobin and heme are
vital during hemolysis. Haptoglobin and hemopexin
supplements or modulators should be developed for
sickle cell disease.
Novel therapies focusing on the consequences of
endothelial cell/heme interactions such as TLR4
inhibitors or P-selectin antagonists should be considered
in sickle cell disease.
These observations have broader implications for sepsis,
hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion and even
atherosclerosis.
44. Acknowledgements
Dr. Chunsheng Chen
Julia Nguyen
Carol Bruzzone
Dr. Sethu Nair
Paul Marker
Dr. Heather Bechtel
Dr. Arif Somani
Dr. Abdu Alayash
Dr. Ann Smith
Dr. Robert Hebbel
Dr. Clifford Steer
Research was supported by NHLBI PO-1 HL55552
Hinweis der Redaktion
Free heme is a tightly regualted by the body because under oxidative stress the heme ring can be opened releasing catalytic iron. Via the fenton reaction, as seen on the left, this free iron can then generage a hydroxyl radical. Therefore, as illustrated as on the right, a number of conditions such as hemorrhage, the afforementioned SCD, malaria, and other conditions leads to a cycle of hemolysis, inflammation, and oxidative stress.