Hemoglobin as a pseudoperoxidase and drug target for oxidative stress-related diseases

Hemoglobin (Hb) is well known for transporting oxygen in the blood, but its role in the brain remains poorly understood. Here, we identified Hb in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nuclei of hippocampal and substantia nigra astrocytes and dopaminergic neurons. As a pseudoperoxidase, Hb decomposes hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and mitigates H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative damage. However, in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and aging, excessive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> diminishes astrocytic Hb, perpetuating a vicious cycle of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. To counter the harmful effects of aberrant H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production in diseases, we developed KDS12025, a BBB-permeable small molecule that enhances Hb pseudoperoxidase activity 100-fold, even at a low level of Hb. KDS12025 and its analogs achieve this enhancement through its electron-donating amine group, possibly stabilizing the complex between Hb, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, and KDS12025. KDS12025 reduces astrocytic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, alleviates astrogliosis, normalizes Hb, and reverts to a virtuous cycle of redox balance, preventing neurodegeneration without altering the oxygen-transport function of Hb. Gene silencing of Hb abrogates the impact of KDS12025 in both culture and animal models, confirming the necessity of Hb for the effects of KDS12025. KDS12025 extends survival and improves motor function even in severe amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and aging. Furthermore, the enrichment of astrocytic Hb in the nucleolus highlights a novel antioxidative mechanism potentially protecting against nuclear oxidative damage. Our findings suggest that Hb is a new therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, with KDS12025 emerging as a first-in-class approach that enhances Hb pseudoperoxidase activity to reduce H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Increasing Hb pseudoperoxidase activity with KDS12025 mitigates oxidative stress and alleviates neurodegeneration in AD, PD, and ALS patients and increases the degree of aging, with broad applicability for numerous oxidative-stress-driven diseases.

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Publication Details

Journal
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Published
2025-08-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02366-w
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.42
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article

Hemoglobin as a pseudoperoxidase and drug target for oxidative stress-related diseases

Sun Jun Park, Yoowon Kim, Jiwoon Lim, Jun Young Heo et al.
3 citations
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
2.42
article

Hemoglobin as a pseudoperoxidase and drug target for oxidative stress-related diseases

Sun Jun Park, Yoowon Kim, Jiwoon Lim, Jun Young Heo, Jae‐Hun Lee, Ae Nim Pae, Woojin Won, Elijah Hwejin Lee, Heejung Chun, Lizaveta Gotina, D. Kim, Changjoon Justin Lee, Ki Duk Park, Woosuk Chung, Hoon Ryu, Mridula Bhalla, Junghee Lee, Tai Young Kim, Hyun Joo An, Uiyeol Park, Jong Hyun Park, Myung Jin Oh, Ji Won Choi, Soo‐Jin Oh, Hyeon Jeong Kim
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Hemoglobin (Hb) is well known for transporting oxygen in the blood, but its role in the brain remains poorly understood. Here, we identified Hb in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nuclei of hippocampal and substantia nigra astrocytes and dopaminergic neurons. As a pseudoperoxidase, Hb decomposes hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and mitigates H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative damage. However, in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and aging, excessive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> diminishes astrocytic Hb, perpetuating a vicious cycle of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. To counter the harmful effects of aberrant H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production in diseases, we developed KDS12025, a BBB-permeable small molecule that enhances Hb pseudoperoxidase activity 100-fold, even at a low level of Hb. KDS12025 and its analogs achieve this enhancement through its electron-donating amine group, possibly stabilizing the complex between Hb, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, and KDS12025. KDS12025 reduces astrocytic H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, alleviates astrogliosis, normalizes Hb, and reverts to a virtuous cycle of redox balance, preventing neurodegeneration without altering the oxygen-transport function of Hb. Gene silencing of Hb abrogates the impact of KDS12025 in both culture and animal models, confirming the necessity of Hb for the effects of KDS12025. KDS12025 extends survival and improves motor function even in severe amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and aging. Furthermore, the enrichment of astrocytic Hb in the nucleolus highlights a novel antioxidative mechanism potentially protecting against nuclear oxidative damage. Our findings suggest that Hb is a new therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, with KDS12025 emerging as a first-in-class approach that enhances Hb pseudoperoxidase activity to reduce H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Increasing Hb pseudoperoxidase activity with KDS12025 mitigates oxidative stress and alleviates neurodegeneration in AD, PD, and ALS patients and increases the degree of aging, with broad applicability for numerous oxidative-stress-driven diseases.

Signal Transduction and Targeted TherapyVol. 10(1)
Boston University (US), Yonsei University (KR), Chungnam National University (KR), VA Boston Healthcare System (US), Korea Institute of Brain Science (KR), Institute for Basic Science (KR), Chungnam National University Hospital (KR), Bio-Medical Science (South Korea) (KR), Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Korea University of Science and Technology (KR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
2.42
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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