Heme Oxygenases are microsomal enzymes that cleave heme to produce the antioxidant biliverdin, inorganic iron and carbon monoxide (CO). The activity of Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1), also designated HSP 32, is highly inducible in response to numerous stimuli, including heme, heavy metals, hormones and oxidative stress.Heme oxygenase occurs as 2 isozymes, an inducible heme oxygenase-1 and a constitutive heme oxygenase-2. HMOX1 and HMOX2 belong to the heme oxygenase family.
