Higher HO-1 activity is associated with the short-GT polymorphisms, a conditions thought be protective against oxidant disorders (e.g., coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis-linked conditions), whereas long GT sequences, coding for a relatively unstable, Z-conformational DNA, exhibits reduced transcriptional activity, as well as basal and stimulated HO-1 protein levels, as found in various malignant conditions (Calabrese et al., 2010d). This evidence concerns the gene HMOX1 and atherosclerosis.