There is also evidence that HO1 can protect against vascular damage and atherogenesis [48]: HO1 is upregulated in macrophages during the development of inflammation in atherosclerosis, with a consequently decreased expression of VCAM-1 and proinflammatory cytokines [49]; HO1 overexpression inhibits atherosclerosis by reducing ox-LDL both in the plasma and in the artery wall and reduces glomerular injury and apoptosis in diabetic rats [50–52]. Here, HMOX1 is linked to atherosclerosis.