SOD2 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Interestingly, there was much greater reduction in the expression of several key antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative genes, including IL1RN that codes for IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and SOD2 and PTEN — in T2D monocytes, respectively (Figure 1C) — suggesting that T2D is associated with the loss of protective genes.