Hemin
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Hemin (haemin; ferric chloride heme) is an iron-containing porphyrin with chlorine that can be formed from a heme group, such as heme B found in the hemoglobin of human blood.
Chemistry
Hemin is protoporphyrin IX containing a ferric iron (Fe3+) ion with a coordinating chloride ligand.
Chemically, hemin differs from the related heme-compound
Hemin is endogenously produced in the human body, for example during the turnover of old red blood cells. It can form inappropriately as a result of hemolysis or vascular injury. Several proteins in human blood bind to hemin, such as hemopexin and serum albumin.
Pharmacological use
A lyophilised form of hemin is used as a pharmacological agent in certain cases for the treatment of porphyria attacks, particularly in acute intermittent porphyria. Administration of hemin can reduce heme deficits in such patients, thereby suppressing the activity of delta-amino-levulinic acid synthase (a key enzyme in the synthesis of the porphyrins) by biochemical feedback, which in turn reduces the production of porphyrins and of the toxic precursors of heme. In such pharmacological contexts, hemin is typically formulated with human albumin prior to administration by a medical professional, to reduce the risk of phlebitis and to stabilize the compound, which is potentially reactive if allowed to circulate in free-form. Such pharmacological forms of hemin are sold under a range of trade names including the trademarks Panhematin[3] and Normosang.[4]
History of isolation
Hemin was first crystallized out of blood in 1853, by
Forensics
Hemin can be produced from hemoglobin by the so-called Teichmann test, when hemoglobin is heated with glacial acetic acid (saturated with saline). This can be used to detect blood traces.
Other
Hemin is considered the "X factor" required for the growth of Haemophilus influenzae.[7]
See also
- Heme oxygenase
- Heme arginate
- Acute intermittent porphyria
- Hematin
- Hemozoin
- Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules
References
- ^ "Search Page - Drug and Health Product Register". 23 October 2014.
- PMID 5249803.
- ^ "Panhematin for Acute Porphyria". American Porphyria Foundation. Archived from the original on 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
- ^ "Normosang". Electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC).
- ^ Fischer H. "On hemin and the relationships between hemin and chlorophyll" (PDF). Nobel Lecture. Nobel Prize Foundation.
- .
- ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.
External links
- Information from the American Porphyria Foundation, including emergency delivery information
- Hemin at RxList
- Hemin at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)