Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate limiting enzyme in the catabolism of heme molecules to the bile pigments which have recently been demonstrated to be strong antioxidants. In this study we analyzed the activity of HO in inflammatory cells isolated from a model of carrageenin induced acute inflammation in the rat. HO activity was significantly higher 24 hours after induction of the inflammation, this increase in activity coincided with the appearance of the highly inducible isoform of HO, Heat Shock Protein 32 kDa (HSP32) as detected by Western Blot analysis. Pre-treatment of animals with Tin protoporphyrin, a HO inhibitor, increased cell exudate at 24 hour in this model by 128% as compared to vehicle control. In comparison pre-treatment with a HO inducer, Ferriprotoporphyrin, decreased inflammatory cell number by 50% and cell exudate by 73% at 24 hours compared to control. These results suggest that HO may represent an endogenous protective mechanism against free radicals in acute inflammation and may be involved in the resolution of acute inflammation. The HSP32 isoform of HO may therefore represent a novel therapeutic target for the modulation of the inflammatory response.