Kurzfassung

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) responds to stress by increased production of bilirubin, carbon monoxide and free iron. These reaction products attenuate oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, all of which play a major role in mediating postischemic reperfusion injury of the heart. With this proposal we will address the research question, if overexpression of human HO-1 exerts a cardioprotective potential in pigs after acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.