HMOX1 and Cerebral ischemia: Antioxidant defense in cerebral ischemia: ACNs promote activation of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the consequent increase in the expression of the Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and γ-glutamyl cysteine synthase (γ-GCS) genes, contributing to decrease brain levels of superoxide and lipid peroxidation (Min et al., 2011; Di Giacomo et al., 2012; Cui et al., 2018) (Figure 3).