HMOX1 and renal fibrosis: Since ANP can also stimulate the production of adiponectin [72], a cytoprotective adipokine with anti-inflammatory effects [50], and the present study indicates that hemin therapy enhances adiponectin and ANP but abates ET-1 with the reduction of renal fibrosis, it could be envisaged that the potentiation of the HO-adiponectin-ANP axis is an important renoprotective mechanism.