These results strongly suggest that the pharmacological induction of HO-1 combined with increased adiponectin levels in diabetic hypertensive rats alters the phenotype through a reduction in oxidative stress, thereby permitting endothelial cells to maintain an anti-apoptotic environment through increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and the restoration of endothelial responses thus preventing hypertension. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is Hypertension.