SOD2 and atherosclerosis: Caruso et al. showed that in atherosclerosis, carnosine regulates the energy state of macrophages during oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, restores and/or increases the expression of antioxidant enzymes (Gpx1, SOD-2, Cat), enhances macrophage-mediated degradation of LDL-C and esterification of cholesterol, and reduces atherosclerosis (30, 31).