Heme-binding protein 1 (HEBP1)

Heme-binding protein 1 (HEBP1) is an intracellular protein that binds heme and other tetrapyrrole molecules with high affinity[4]. It plays a role in the removal of potentially toxic free porphyrinogens and modulates cellular responses to heme, especially in neurons, where it is associated with mitochondrial contact site complexes[1][3]. HEBP1 is proteolytically processed to generate a 21-amino acid peptide (F2L), which acts as a high-affinity agonist for formyl peptide receptor 3 (FPR3), linking HEBP1 to immune cell chemotaxis and inflammatory signaling[1][3]. Elevated HEBP1 has been implicated in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease by promoting heme-induced neuronal apoptosis via mitochondrial caspase activation, suggesting roles in neurodegeneration as well as innate immune modulation[1][3]. No specific approved drugs directly target HEBP1, but it is considered a potential therapeutic target due to its involvement in both neurodegenerative and inflammatory processes.

Other names

HEBPHBPp22HBPHEBP1_HUMANHeme binding protein 1HBP1

Drugs targeting pathways modulated by HEBP1 (e.g., inhibition of downstream apoptosis pathways, modulation of immune chemotaxis via FPRs); no known HEBP1-specific mechanism due to absence of direct drugs[1]