Hemolysis and free hemoglobin revisited: exploring hemoglobin and hemin scavengers as a novel class of therapeutic proteins

Abstract

Hemolysis occurs in many hematologic and nonhematologic diseases. Extracellular hemoglobin (Hb) has been found to trigger specific pathophysiologies that are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with hemolysis, such as acute and chronic vascular disease, inflammation, thrombosis, and renal impairment. Among the molecular characteristics of extracellular Hb, translocation of the molecule into the extravascular space, oxidative and nitric oxide reactions, hemin release, and molecular signaling effects of hemin appear to be the most critical. Limited clinical experience with a plasma-derived haptoglobin (Hp) product in Japan and more recent preclinical animal studies suggest that the natural Hb and the hemin-scavenger proteins Hp and hemopexin have a strong potential to neutralize the adverse physiologic effects of Hb and hemin. This includes conditions that are as diverse as RBC transfusion, sickle cell disease, sepsis, and extracorporeal circulation. This perspective reviews the principal mechanisms of Hb and hemin toxicity in different disease states, updates how the natural scavengers efficiently control these toxic moieties, and explores critical issues in the development of human plasma–derived Hp and hemopexin as therapeutics for patients with excessive intravascular hemolysis.

Introduction

When hemoglobin (Hb) bursts from RBCs because of hemolysis, the naked Hb, devoid of its antioxidant sentries that are normally available within the RBC, can wreak oxidative havoc in the vasculature and in exposed tissues.¹ To neutralize Hb and its reactive ferric protoporphyrin-IX group (hemin), specialized plasma scavenger proteins sequester the toxic moieties and transit them to compartments where heme-oxygenases can break down hemin into less toxic metabolites. Other molecules and reducing substances contribute to this protective physiology. However, when these clearance and detoxifying systems are overwhelmed by intravascular hemolysis, such as during sickle cell disease, blood transfusion, malaria, or sepsis, Hb and hemin trigger vascular and organ dysfunction that leads to adverse clinical effects (Figure 1). This perspective reviews the mechanisms of Hb toxicity in different disease states, updates how haptoglobin (Hp) and hemopexin (Hpx) efficiently handle free Hb and hemin, and explores why the time has come to consider these proteins as therapeutics in patients with excessive intravascular hemolysis.

Figure 1.

Schematic summary of the Hb clearance compartments and the main acute and chronic pathologies that can be associated with intravascular hemolysis. The availability of the Hb and hemin scavenger proteins Hp and Hpx shifts the physiologic balance from tissue damage toward protection.

Extracellular Hb and hemin are multicomponent triggers of disease processes

Adverse clinical effects associated with excessive free Hb can be attributed to several specific structural and biochemical properties of the Hb molecule and are caused by the following 4 mutually interacting mechanisms: (1) extravascular translocation of Hb, which is a principal requirement that Hb and hemin can unleash their adverse reactivity in tissues; (2) nitric oxide and oxidative reactions; (3) release of free hemin; and (4) molecular-signaling effects of hemin. These mechanisms are outlined in the subsequent sections and are summarized in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Schematic summary of the principal mechanisms of Hb toxicity and protection by the plasma scavenger proteins Hp and Hpx.

Mechanism 1: extravascular translocation of Hb

After hemolysis, Hb exists in a dynamic equilibrium of tetramer and αβ-subunit heterodimers, with a predominant dimer state at low plasma Hb concentrations. αβ-Dimers are of a relatively small molecular size (32 kDa), allowing for protein translocation and access to vulnerable anatomic sites (eg, the kidneys and vascular wall). Tissue exposure to Hb is most evident in cases of overt hemoglobinuria after massive intravascular hemolysis, but Hb is also capable of translocating across endothelial barriers, entering the subendothelial and perivascular spaces and the lymph fluid.^2,3

Mechanism 2: NO and oxidant reactions

A second mechanism of Hb toxicity is the prooxidative reactivity of Hb in plasma or within tissues after extravasation. The Hb reactions with nitric oxide (NO) and with physiologic oxidants (eg, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides) are the most extensively studied. NO consumption and subsequent Hb oxidation occurs via 2 reactions: (1) NO dioxygenation of oxy-Hb, which generates nitrate (NO₃⁻) and ferric Hb (Hb-Fe³⁺), and (2) iron nitrosylation of deoxy-Hb, which occurs by direct iron binding of NO to nonliganded ferrous Hb (Hb-Fe²⁺).

The current understanding of the biochemistry and pathophysiology of these reactions have largely been derived from the study of Hb-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) and their well-documented adverse effects on hemodynamics.⁴ Targeted mutagenesis of Hb aimed at limiting interactions with NO or chemical modifications to limit access to sites of NO bioavailability within the vascular wall (eg, by chemical cross-linking of Hb into large polymers or surface-decorated conjugates) attenuate vasoconstriction and hypertension.^5,6 Therefore, NO depletion by extracellular Hb is now a widely accepted hypothesis to explain the acute hypertensive response that occurs during massive hemolysis (reaching moderate to high plasma levels of free Hb) or during HBOC infusion.^6,7 In addition to vasodilator depletion, another result of Hb-NO reactions might be the generation of Hb-Fe³⁺ within tissue parenchyma. Accumulation of Hb-Fe³⁺ within tissues may promote hemin release and/or transfer of hemin to other proteins/lipids with secondary toxicity driven by the free hemin.

The biochemistry of the Hb reaction with peroxides has been scrutinized over the past 40 years,⁸ but the significance of these reactions for Hb- and hemin-driven pathophysiology is still poorly defined. The assumption that oxidative Hb side reactions could be an important determinant of Hb toxicity was based on observations that peroxides are formed and released into the extracellular space in relatively large quantities during inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion. Under in vitro conditions, the Hb reaction with peroxide results in the formation of Hb-Fe³⁺, higher oxidation iron species such as ferryl Hb (Hb-Fe⁴⁺), and associated radicals (Figure 2 mechanism II). It has been suggested that globin-chain free radicals are available for localized amino acid oxidations (eg, within Hb) or radical transfer to non-Hb molecules (eg, lipoproteins).^9,10 The proposed final outcome of these reactions is Hb self-destruction, hemin loss, and globin chain cross-linking/precipitation, which can ultimately lead to tissue damage.¹¹ It should be noted that the putative impact of these reactions on disease conditions is based on limited and indirect experimental evidence, so it remains uncertain whether significant quantities of Hb-Fe⁴⁺ and radicals are generated during in vivo hemolysis and if they contribute to disease. The only oxidized Hb species that can be consistently quantified in vivo are Hb-Fe³⁺ and hemichrome, a structurally distorted form of Hb-Fe³⁺. The disparity between in vitro biochemical observations and in vivo findings may be because of the shifted balance between oxidation and reduction reactions in in vivo conditions.¹² The availability of large quantities of small-molecule and enzymatic reductants may reduce the stability of higher-oxidation-state Hb species and Hb-derived radicals to undetectable levels. Intramolecular Hb cross-links, porphyrin-globin covalent adducts, and globin chain amino acid oxidations have been defined as surrogate markers for Hb-Fe⁴⁺ formation. Such modifications have been found in Hb recovered from the spinal fluid after subarachnoid hemorrhage and from the urine, suggesting that peroxidative reactions may contribute to Hb toxicity in vivo.^13,14

Mechanism 3: hemin release and transfer

A third mechanism of Hb toxicity is through release of hemin from Hb-Fe³⁺, which is the main product of the oxidative reactions described in the previous section. Hemin release allows for transfer of the reactive porphyrin to cell membranes or soluble plasma proteins and lipids and provides free hemin as a ligand for molecular signaling interactions. As a hydrophobic molecule, it is unlikely that significant quantities of free, monomeric hemin can be present in the plasma. Therefore, transferred hemin in the form of low-affinity hemin protein (eg, hemin-albumin) or hemin-lipid complexes are the most likely physiologic end products of hemin release. Depending on the protein or lipid environment, free iron-protoporphyrin can function as an intermediate and transform the recipient molecule into a reactive end product. The most identifiable toxic end product of hemin release is oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL).¹⁵ LDL oxidation and the associated inflammatory and cytotoxic activities represents a critical example of the ability of Hb to induce vascular injury.^16,17

Mechanism 4: molecular signaling effects of hemin

Hemin can selectively bind to several receptors, transcription factors, and enzymes and thereby alter cell activation state, gene transcription, and metabolism. The most well-defined interaction is the binding of hemin to the transcriptional repressor Bach-1, which regulates transcription of heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and other antioxidant enzymes essential for the adaptive response to enhanced intracellular hemin levels.¹⁸ Hemin is also a ligand of the nuclear hormone receptor REV-ERB, which regulates circadian rhythm, glucose metabolism, and adipogenesis.¹⁹ Inhibition of the proteasome by hemin and by some designed hydrophilic porphyrins has thus far been documented in biochemical assays only.^20,21 However, if confirmed in biologic systems, this activity may help explain aspects of hemin toxicity. In addition, activation of TLRs and downstream inflammatory signaling, particularly of the TLR-4 pathway, can be triggered by free hemin in some models.^22–24

In summary, the definitive pathophysiology of extracellular Hb is dependent on timing, quantity, and tissue localization of Hb/hemin exposure in a specific clinical condition and may result from cumulative effects largely described by the 4 mechanisms discussed in the sections above. For example, systemic and, to some extent, pulmonary hypertension is the most apparent and readily measurable effect of free Hb after intravascular hemolysis. The mechanisms driving acute elevations in blood pressure are Hb translocation into subendothelial spaces, local NO depletion within the vessel wall, and subsequent vasoconstriction. Vascular complications of chronic and/or intermittent Hb exposure are likely to be more complicated, involving inflammation, localized oxidative reactions, thrombosis, vascular remodeling, and renal impairment.^25–28 As outlined in the following sections, all 4 mechanisms of Hb and hemin toxicity are specifically attenuated by the natural scavenger proteins Hp and Hpx, explaining the extraordinary protective function of these molecules.

Biochemistry and physiology of Hb and hemin-scavenger proteins

During mild to moderate hemolysis, a network of scavenger proteins, receptors, and enzymes accomplishes clearance and detoxification of extracellular Hb and hemin. The primary clearance pathway involves transport to the liver parenchyma or macrophages, breakdown of the porphyrin by the heme-oxygenases into bilirubin, carbon monoxide and iron, and recovery of the iron for de novo erythropoiesis. Scavenger proteins attenuate the toxicity of Hb and hemin so that these potentially toxic molecules are captured and transported in an inert form. The plasma proteins with the most promising therapeutic potential are Hp and Hpx. These proteins are discussed in more detail in the following sections.

Hp

Hp fundamentally changes the biochemical and physiologic profile of free Hb.²⁹ When bound within the large molecular size Hb:Hp complex (> 150 kDa), Hb remains sequestered within the intravascular space and its translocation into the kidney and across the endothelial layer appears to be prevented. This simple mechanism keeps potentially adverse biochemical reactions of the free Hb with NO and/or peroxides away from the most susceptible anatomic sites such as the vascular wall. Intravascular sequestration appears to be the most effective way by which Hp prevents Hb-induced hypertension and renal damage (Figure 3). In addition, Hb remains contained within the reducing (ie, antioxidant-rich) environment of the blood plasma until monocyte and macrophage clearance is complete.

Figure 3.

Hp sequestration of Hb. Guinea pigs were infused with stroma-free Hb (peak plasma Hb concentration, 150μM heme) and, after 10 minutes, a treatment group of animals was infused with human plasma–derived Hp to match an equimolar Hb:Hp concentration. (A) Mean arterial blood pressure response before and after Hp treatment. (B) Unbound plasma Hb (red) before and after Hp administration. The left shift in the chromatogram indicates the large molecular size Hb:Hp complex with approximately 90% Hp bound and 10% unbound Hb. (C) Hemoglobinuria after Hb infusion (150μM heme) without (−Hp, left) and with Hp (+Hp, right). (D) Iron deposition (brown staining) in normal kidney renal cortex (left), Hb infusion (middle), and Hb infusion plus Hp (right). (E) HO-1 expression in kidneys after 24 hours after Hb exposure with and without Hp infusion (left). Densitometry is shown to the right of the HO-1 Western blot. All data are presented as means ± SEM.

Recent in vitro experiments suggest that Hp may also alter Hb's oxidative reactions. Hp decreases the redox potential of bound Hb-Fe³⁺, stabilizes the higher oxidation state of Hb-Fe⁴⁺, and prevents radical transfer to non-Hb molecules in the presence of oxidants.^30,31 The recently resolved crystal structure of the porcine Hb:Hp complex provided some structural basis for the protection of critical amino acids that are primary targets of globin oxidation.³² As a result of this protection, globin oxidation with subsequent protein degradation does not occur when Hb is sequestered in the Hb:Hp complex.³³ The structural stability of the complex may prevent accumulation of proinflammatory Hb-degradation products that can evade clearance by scavenger receptors.^14,34 In addition, hemin resides firmly in the Hb:Hp complex, it cannot transfer to hemin acceptors such as Hpx, lipoproteins, and albumin.³⁵ Therefore, the prevention of hemin transfer is another essential mechanism by which Hp protects against Hb-driven oxidation of membrane lipids and plasma lipoproteins, preventing the accumulation of free hemin.

Genetic heterogeneity of the Hp α-subunit composition in humans allows for the existence of a structural polymorphism with a dimeric Hp 1-1 (α₂β₂) and heterogeneous multimeric Hp 2-2 and Hp 2-1 (α _{> 2}β _{> 2}) phenotypes.³⁶ Each Hp β chain can bind one Hb αβ dimer, allowing for 2 binding sites in Hp 1-1 and multiple binding sites in Hp 2-2. The protein-binding capacity and the basic biochemical functions of Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-2 are equal because they relate to Hb clearance and detoxification (D.J.S. and P.W.B., submitted manuscript). The molecular basis for the apparent association of the Hp 2-2 genotype with an enhanced risk for cardiovascular diseases in some high-risk patient populations remains unexplained.^36,37

A human plasma–derived Hp product was developed by the Japanese Green Cross (now Benesis Corporation) and was approved in 1985 for the treatment of hemolysis due to extracorporeal circulation, burn injuries, and trauma with massive blood transfusions (Table 1). Subsequent findings of several small-scale studies indicated that Hp supplementation could prevent renal tubulus damage during open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, HELLP (hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelets) syndrome, and after hemolysis complicating endoscopic injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices with ethanolamine-oleate (Table 1). Case reports and studies in a limited number of patients further support the successful use of Hp in patients with hemolytic anemias (ie, thalassemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), severe burn injury, in patients with hemolysis resulting from accidental ABO-incompatible RBC transfusion, and as a prophylaxis or treatment for hemolysis after ABO-mismatched BM transplantation. The primary clinical criteria for Hp administration and dosing in these studies were the appearance and reversal of hemoglobinuria with the intent of limiting renal injury. The reported doses of Hp that were administered for treating acute hemolytic conditions were approximately 2 g to > 10 g per patient, with dosing schedules of repeated 2 g (children) or 4 g (adults) boluses. The cost for the Hp therapeutic in Japan is currently at $540 USD per 2-g bolus. To our knowledge, there is so far no reported use of Hp in chronic hemolytic conditions in which repeated dosing over a longer treatment period might be necessary to effectively suppress free plasma Hb levels.

Table 1.

Literature-cited clinical use of haptoglobin in Japan

Clinical condition	Subjects/controls	Haptoglobin dose	Primary finding (intention of treatment)	Reference
Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery	16/21	6 g	Prevention of acute renal failure	Hashimoto et al87
	14/0	4 g		Tanaka et al88
Coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with β-thalassemia and severe hemolysis	Single case report			Horai et al89
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation	Single case report	3 g	Prevention of acute renal failure	Tsuda et al90
Hemolytic transfusion reaction	Single case report	6 g	Prevention of acute renal failure	Homann et al91
Massive transfusion	16/34	6 g	Undetermined benefit	Gando et al92
Extracorporeal circulation	10/10	6 g	Prevention of acute renal failure	Kanamori et al93
HELLP syndrome	17/17	3 g	Prevention of acute renal failure	Yamamoto et al94
ABO-incompatible BM transplantation	Two patient case reports	11 g	Prevention of acute renal failure	Ito et al95
Thermal injury	Single case report (repeated, large-dose therapy)	> 20 g	Improved outcome	Imaizumi et al96
			Prevention of hemoglobinuria and acute renal failure	Yoshioka et al97
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency	Single patient case report (24-mo-old boy)	8.5 g	Prevention of hemoglobinuria	Ohga et al98
Adult patent ductus arteriosus, coil embolization	Single patient case report	45 g	Prevention of hemoglobinuria	Eda et al99

Hpx

Hpx is a hemin-binding plasma glycoprotein that forms the second line of defense against intravascular hemolysis associated with hemin release from Hb-Fe³⁺. Multiple proteins bind hemin, including albumin (Kd, approximately 10⁻⁸M) and the lipoprotein particles LDL/HDL (Kd, 10⁻¹⁰M to 10⁻¹¹M). However, Hpx (Kd < 10⁻¹³M) is the most effective hemin-binding protein that sequesters porphyrin in an oxidatively inert hexacoordinate conformation in a complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry.^38–42 The most relevant function of Hpx in plasma and tissues is likely the protection of susceptible lipoproteins against oxidative modifications and limiting hemin interactions with cell-surface receptors such as TLR-4.^24,38,43 In hemin exposure models using the Hpx-knockout mouse, the scavenger protein demonstrated attenuation of hemin-induced endothelial cell activation, vasoocclusion in the liver, and renal damage.^27,44 In that same model, data suggested that Hpx shifts plasma hemin to endocytosis and decomposition in hepatocytes.

Like Hp levels, Hpx plasma levels are generally depleted in conditions with intravascular hemolysis, suggesting that supplementation of the plasma protein might provide some benefit to patients.⁴⁵ However, no Hpx product is available at a quality that would allow more extensive in vivo studies beyond murine models. Therefore, expanded studies with Hpx treatment may not be possible in the near future for larger animal models of relevant clinical conditions such as blood transfusion or coronary artery bypass grafting and extracorporeal circulation.

Hb and hemin scavenger receptors

Endocytic receptors clear the biochemically inert circulating Hb:Hp and hemin:Hpx complexes from the circulation. In vitro and ex vivo experiments have demonstrated that macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes, respectively, are the primary cell types that clear Hb and Hb:Hp complexes via binding and internalization of the scavenger receptor CD163.^46–49 The strong induction of CD163 by glucocorticoid treatment in patients with autoimmune diseases identified the Hb scavenger receptor as a potential therapeutic target.⁵⁰ Clearance of “endogenous” Hb:Hp is a rapid process after mild hemolysis; however, data obtained in animal models of Hb:Hp infusion or intravascular hemolysis with therapeutic Hp administration suggest slower clearance depending on the level of Hb:Hp accumulation and on the species evaluated. We observed a long circulation half-life of approximately 12 hours for human and canine Hb:Hp complexes in beagle dogs with starting plasma concentrations of approximately 150μM (heme). The half-life of a human Hb:Hp complex was approximately 16 hours at the same plasma concentration in guinea pigs (D.J.S. and P.W.B., unpublished data). Recent work indicates that the CD163 binding specificity for Hb and the Hb:Hp complex, respectively, has considerable interspecies variability, so the threshold for saturation of clearance mechanisms in humans and some laboratory animals might differ significantly.⁵¹ It will therefore be critical for early human trials to define the pharmacokinetics of the Hb:Hp complex at different intravascular concentrations that match conditions of single or repeated Hp administration during acute, intermittent, and chronic hemolysis. A clearance concept similar to that of the Hb:Hp complex has been proposed for clearance of the hemin-Hpx complex, which is bound and internalized by the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP)/CD91 on hepatocytes, where hemin is degraded by HO-1.^52,53

Depletion of Hp and Hpx complexes via their cognate receptors during acute and chronic intravascular hemolysis promotes the pathophysiologic consequences outlined in Figure 1, which we hypothesize could be interrupted by supplementation.

The role of Hb, heme, and their scavenger proteins in specific human diseases

Sickle cell disease and other hematologic diseases.

Hemolysis and vasoocclusion are the hallmarks of sickle cell disease. Intravascular hemolysis accounts for one-third of RBC destruction leading to increases in plasma free Hb and hemin. In the 1960s, it was recognized that plasma levels of free Hb can be as high as 25μM during sickle cell crisis, with basal plasma Hb levels at 5-10μM in sickle cell patients. Hp and Hpx levels were found to be depleted.⁴⁵ Low Hp and increased plasma free Hb levels were associated with increased protein carbonyl and nitrotyrosine levels in sickle cell anemia.⁵⁴ Clinically, uncomplicated pain episodes were found to be associated with increases in plasma hemoglobin levels,^55,56 and low levels of Hp were correlated with pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell anemia.⁵⁷ Although the reported plasma Hb levels in sickle cell patients are much lower than the plasma Hb levels that have been explored in hemodynamic studies of HBOC administration and some animal models of severe hemolysis, these data suggest that free Hb could be a strong pathophysiologic component of the vascular complications of sickle cell disease.

Pathophysiologic hypotheses have focused on the causal relationship among Hb-mediated NO consumption, vascular complications, and increased pulmonary artery pressure. In these critical studies, an increased tricuspid valve jet regurgitation (TRV) of > 2.5 m/s was defined as a surrogate marker of pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell patients. Increased TRV was found in 30% of patients with sickle cell disease and was well correlated with markers of hemolysis.⁵⁸ Generally, plasma Hb levels in sickle cell patients are orders of magnitude lower than the levels that were studied in classic experimental models of Hb- or HBOC-mediated NO depletion and vasoconstriction. However, free Hb concentrations of 6μM impaired the vasodilatory response to nitroprusside infusion, suggesting that the low free plasma Hb concentrations in sickle cell patients could still critically limit NO bioavailability and promote vasoconstriction, platelet activation, and coagulopathy.^59–61 Cumulatively, these effects were hypothesized to be causative for pulmonary hypertension and other vascular complications. More recently, 2 independent studies from France⁶² and Brazil⁶³ used right heart catheterization (the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension) in addition to echocardiography for the evaluation of sickle cell patients. These French and Brazilian studies confirmed that a large proportion of sickle patients have increased TRV, but in only 6% and 10% of the patients, respectively, was pulmonary hypertension confirmed by right heart catheterization. Even fewer patients (2.75% and 3.75%) had a precapillary pattern of pulmonary hypertension, which would be expected as the typical hemodynamic pattern if NO depletion and vasoconstriction within the pulmonary circulation were the primary pathophysiologic mechanism. In both studies, the levels of lactate dehydrogenase were significantly higher in patients with confirmed pulmonary hypertension. It was therefore concluded that pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell patients is caused by a complex, multifactorial pathophysiology that may involve NO depletion, vasoconstriction, thromboembolic vascular occlusion, left ventricular impairment, chronic vascular remodeling, and secondary hemodynamic effects caused by the hyperdynamic circulation that occurs in many patients with more severe or chronic anemia.^64,65 The quantitative contributions of these individual factors and the specific role of free Hb and hemin in the pathophysiology of vascular complication in sickle cell disease remain an important area for further mechanistic evaluation in clinical settings.

Murine models of sickle cell disease continue to provide support for a critical role of hemolysis and free Hb and hemin, respectively, in vasoocclusive complications.⁶⁶ Sickle mice have intravascular hemolysis, as evidenced by elevated plasma Hb, decreased Hp and Hpx, and elevated reticulocytes and plasma bilirubin. In studies using a model of vascular stasis, induction or overexpression of HO-1 inhibited the vascular stasis induced by hypoxia.^67–69 Furthermore, infusion of hemoglobin or heme into sickle mice induced vascular stasis that could be inhibited by Hp or Hpx supplementation.⁷⁰ In the prooxidative environment of sickle cell anemia, Hb-Fe²⁺ may react with NO or other oxidants to generate Hb-Fe³⁺, from which hemin is released.⁶⁹ In the absence of Hp and Hpx, plasma heme can interact with albumin or other plasma proteins and/or lipoproteins, but ultimately heme is distributed to cells in the vasculature, including endothelial cells and leukocytes. The hydrophobicity of heme allows it to enter cell membranes and activate TLR-4–signaling pathways that trigger proinflammatory and prothrombotic responses, thereby promoting blood cell adhesion and vasoocclusion.^24,70

The epidemiologic and experimental data support a concept whereby substitution of Hp and/or Hpx could attenuate or prevent complications associated with accelerated intravascular hemolysis in sickle cell disease.

There are many other hematologic diseases in which hemolysis constitutes a primary disease process (eg, thalassemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) or a secondary phenomenon (eg, hemolytic uremic syndrome or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). Although the contribution of free Hb and hemin toxicity to disease outcome has not been explored in this wider arena of hemolytic disorders, the broader availability of Hp and Hpx will provide us with the required tools to systematically explore the therapeutic potential of Hb/hemin neutralization in these multifactorial diseases.

Blood transfusion.

Retrospective data analyses suggest that transfusion of older stored blood (approaching 42 days) results in increased morbidity and mortality compared with newer blood.⁷¹ Increased morbidity has typically been associated with immune suppression, infection, cardiovascular complications, and acute/chronic kidney injury. One of the most essential consequences of the so-called “RBC storage lesion” is related to reduced deformability, enhanced in vivo fragility, and susceptibility of RBCs to attack by components of the immune system. These changes may be accompanied by increased hemolysis of older storage RBCs.

Although the clinical impact of blood storage duration on clinical outcome remains controversial, numerous models have been developed to evaluate the effects of hemolysis and Hb toxicity.^72–75 Guinea pigs subjected to massive transfusion (the equivalent of > 10 units) of maximally stored guinea pig blood demonstrated increased plasma Hb concentrations over a 24-hour period, which resulted from posttransfusion hemolysis.⁷⁶ This was associated with increased hemoglobinuria, acute renal failure, hypertension, and vascular injury. Hp coinfusion with older storage blood resulted in attenuation of adverse renal and vascular effects to resemble that of new blood transfusion. These observations are supported by several studies suggesting that blood transfusion in mice, rats, and sheep are associated with increased blood pressure, NO depletion, and increased plasma Hb concentrations.^74,75,77 Hb-related transfusion complications in humans have also been associated with ABO mismatch and massive transfusion (> 10 units/24 hours).

Clinically, Hp has been used to treat adverse transfusion outcomes in Japan, and the primary reported outcome of therapeutic Hp treatment appears to be prevention of renal tubular injury (Table 1).

Sepsis and malaria.

Hemolysis can also occur during severe bacterial infection and sepsis, and depletion of Hpx has been associated with more severe disease and fatal outcome.⁷⁸ Within these complex disease processes, hemin could act as an activator of innate immunity via pattern recognition receptor activation (eg, TLR-4), via synergistic effects with microbial products or endogenous pro-inflammatory ligands (eg, HMGB1), or via peroxidative tissue damage.^24,79,80 Studies in mice suggested that the net effect of free hemin in polymicrobial sepsis could be detrimental and that neutralization of hemin by Hpx administration ameliorates this effect.⁷⁸

The protective action of Hpx in sepsis may involve the control of excessive hemin peroxidative activity, inhibition of innate immunity receptor interactions, and redirection of free hemin away from susceptible tissues toward clearance in the liver. Restriction of hemin-iron access by Hb and hemin scavenger proteins could be another protective mechanism against severe infections by some bacterial strains.^81,82 The in vivo activity of Hpx may also involve Hpx activities that are independent of its primary hemin scavenger function. The outcome of such activities has been noted as anti-inflammatory in some cases (eg, Hpx attenuates inflammatory cytokine secretion by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages⁸³), whereas impaired bacterial clearance was found as a consequence of suppressed neutrophil migration in other mouse studies.⁸⁴ At this point, it is unknown whether such non-hemin–related effects of Hpx are an inherent activity of the protein itself or if they are side effects caused by impurities or degradation products in some preparations of plasma-derived Hpx.⁸⁵

In mouse models of malaria, Hb/hemin-driven oxidative damage and NO depletion were linked to the evolution of cerebral malaria.⁸⁶ However, although we suspect that this pathophysiology could be attenuated by Hp and/or Hpx treatment, the efficacy of scavenger proteins has not yet been tested for this specific condition.

Conclusion: is there an unmet need for scavenger protein-based therapeutics?

Multiple hematologic and nonhematologic disease states are associated with RBC lysis, and the adverse effects of free Hb and hemin potentially complicate clinical disease outcome. There is currently no viable therapy designed to attenuate the adverse effects of free Hb and hemin. Replacement or supraphysiologic dosing of Hp and/or Hpx to match acute or ongoing hemolysis may be of therapeutic benefit by attenuating many of the pathophysiologies that we discuss in this perspective and several clinical situations in which Hb contributes to acute (eg, acute kidney injury) or chronic (eg, vascular remodeling) sequelae. Plasma-purified Hp has been marketed in Japan since 1985, with primary indications for use in conjunction with extracorporeal circulation, massive transfusion, and thermal injury. The primary therapeutic effect in these disease states is protection of the kidneys from Hb-induced toxicity.⁸⁷ Thus far, no therapeutic experience exists for Hpx in a clinical setting. However, several United States– and European-based pharmaceutical companies have commenced development projects to fractionate Hp and Hpx from human plasma for use as therapeutics during hemolytic diseases. In 2011, a human plasma–derived Hp was given orphan drug status for the treatment of sickle cell disease in the European Union. However, to date, preclinical proof of concept for Hp and Hpx has been studied within a general context of Hb- and hemolysis-driven pathophysiology and not with the intention of treating a specific disease. Within most countries, drugs/biologics are approved based on indication-specific improvement in disease outcome and acceptable safety. Therefore, rational selection of potential indications, dose schedules, and clinical trial design to achieve measurable outcomes and acceptable safety profiles will be critical for the concepts presented herein to successfully progress toward improved patient care. These and other questions will pose exciting basic scientific, clinical, and regulatory challenges in the development process of Hb/hemin-scavenging therapeutics.

Authorship

Contribution: D.J.S., P.W.B., A.I.A., J.D.B., and G.M.V. contributed to the writing and editing of this article.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: J.D.B. and G.M.V. receive research funding from Sangart Inc. The remaining authors declare no competing financial interests.

Correspondence: Dominik J. Schaer, MD, Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland; e-mail: dominik.schaer@usz.ch; or Gregory M. Vercellotti, MD, FACP, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, D495 Mayo Memorial Bldg, MMC 480, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455; e-mail: verce001@umn.edu.