Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a microsomal enzyme that degrades heme, a prosthetic group of the heme protein family (e.g., hemoglobin), into the bile pigment biliverdin. Biliverdin is subsequently converted to bilirubin, carbon monoxide, and reduced iron. Bilirubin has an anti-inflammatory effect and is part of the oxidative stress response due to its strong free radical scavenging activity, whereas carbon monoxide has a vasodilatory effect on organ blood flow.Heme oxygenase exists in at least two isozyme forms: heme oxygenase-1 and heme oxygenase-2, each of which differs in tissue expression and inducibility. Heme oxygenase-1in particular is intracellularly induced as part of the oxidative stress response; therefore,heme oxygenase-1monitoring may prove useful for the identification of physiological stress inducers.

ELISAs for heme oxygenase-1 detection

The Rat Heme Oxygenase-1 EIA Kit (Precoated) is a solid-phase sandwich ELISA that utilizes two mouse monoclonalheme oxygenase-1antibodies, one of which is coated on the plate and the other of which is peroxidase-labeled. This 96-well format in vitro enzyme immunoassay kit is intended for the quantitation of rat heme oxygenase-1 in blood, cell-culture supernatant, and various organ systems.

Antibodies for heme oxygenase-1 detection

Monoclonal Anti-Heme Oxygenase-1 Antibody (Clone GTS-1) and Monoclonal Anti-Heme Oxygenase-1 Antibody (Clone GTS-3) are sodium azide-free and can be used directly for heme oxygenase-1 inhibition assays. These antibodies can also be used for detection of heme oxygenase-1 by Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues.