HMOX1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: For example, specific GT genotypes in the promoter of the HO‐1 (heme‐oxygenase 1) gene have been linked to altered transcriptional activity 60, 61, due to modulation of flanking response elements 35, and are associated with increased risk for several different diseases (cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancers) 62, 63, 64, 65.