Heme oxygenase activity is decreased by D-penicillamine in neonates

Abstract

A 3-day D-penicillamine treatment of neonatal rats caused a significant decrease in heme oxygenase activity. This change was not observed in adult rats. The data indicate age-related differences in the effects of D-penicillamine.

Oral D‐penicillamine for the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants: a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial

“…D-penicillamine had been tried out by Hungarian researchers over two decades ago with highly impressive results (12)(13)(14)(15)32), but there were concerns about methodology and generalizability. D-penicillamine had been tried out by Hungarian researchers over two decades ago with highly impressive results (12)(13)(14)(15)32), but there were concerns about methodology and generalizability.…”

“…Retinopathy of Prematurity continues to remain an important cause of childhood blindness around the world. D-penicillamine had been tried out by Hungarian researchers over two decades ago with highly impressive results (12)(13)(14)(15)32), but there were concerns about methodology and generalizability.…”

“…D-penicillamine has several proposed modes of action (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). It scavenges oxygen-free radicals (15,16), facilitates haem synthesis and protects peroxidation of biomembranes by enhancing the action of haem-containing anti-oxidant enzymes (17).…”

“Bloodless” Treatment of a Jehovah’s Witness Infant With ABO Hemolytic Disease

“…As far as the mechanisms of action of DPA in ABO-HDN are concerned, it proved to be a potent inhibitor of heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism to bile pigments, only in the neonates. 18 Therefore, this drug can moderate the postnatal rate of increase of plasma bilirubin levels. The use of DPA in combination with phototherapy seems to be an apt combination to diminish the intensity of hyperbilirubinemia, because DPA decreases bilirubin production; simultaneously, by its antioxidant effects, 19 -21 DPA is able to prevent the possible adverse side effects of phototherapy that have been demonstrated in vitro and most recently in vivo.…”

Comment on “New Antioxidant Drugs for Neonatal Brain Injury”

“…The use of chelation therapy for nonmetal overload indications continues to be investigated. Furthermore, the mechanism of DPA in the reduction of serum bilirubin is based on the fact that this drug inhibits the rate limited enzyme (heme oxigenase) in heme metabolism [ 13 ]. Because those enzymes that play an important role in antioxidant defense and drug metabolism (peroxidases, catalase, and cytochrome P-450) are heme proteins, it can be assumed that in preventing hyperbilirubinemia, ROP, and oxygen toxicity, the mechanism of action of DPA is identical: the protection of biomembranes against lipid peroxidation caused by free radical.…”