HMOX1 and myocardial infarction: In animal models of MI, HO-1 over-expression in either transgenic [10-12] or transfected rodents [13-15] or even pre-treatment with cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP) [16], a powerful and widely used inducer of HO-1 expression [17,18], reduced infarct size as well as ventricular remodeling, enhanced endothelial function, promoted neoangiogenesis and restored cardiac metabolism.