We have examined the effect of NO donor, S-nitl‘ oso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine(SNAP) on heme oxygenase-1 (HQ-l) ex pression in human oral immortalized & malignant keratinocytes, and investigated in the control of keratinocyte proliferation evidence tha t HO-1 cou ld be involved in a low dose of NO, NO inhibitor, HOinducer, and HO inhibitor medi ated cytoprotect ion against cytotoxi city induced by a high dose of NO Oral keratinocyte growth inhibitory or anti-proliferative effects were exerted by with SNAP and hemin in a dose- and cul tivation time dependent manner The level of HQ-1 protein was increased in all cell types after exposure hernin dose, and the hemin induced HQ-1 protein achieved at higher maximum level by 12 hrs in all kind of cells , The pretreatment of cells with 0, 2 μ M SNAP reduced 1 mM SNAP-induced death in IHOK and HN4 cells , These cytoprotective effects on high dose of NO induced HQ-1 expresion and cell ular toxicity were blocked by low dose of SNAP, HCB, and ZnPP IX supporting the involvement of HQ-1 in high dose NO induced growth arrest or cell death, But these cytoprotection pattern is different from immortalized and malignant keratinocytes , These results indirectly demonstrate that HQ-1 could be involved in cytoprotection by NO priming against high dose NO induced cytotoxicity in immortalized and maigla nt oral keratinocytes, Thus, HQ-1 might be an important cellular target of NO donor, with clinical implications for the pre vention of inJlammatory di seases and anti-tumor immunity