It was found that activation of the Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathway downregulated the production and release of pro-inflammatory mediators in microglia and subsequently protected neurons from inflammatory damage, and that upregulation of Nrf2 and HO-1 was reliant on activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.[63] In addition, quercetin was found to reduce lipopolysaccharide-induced ROS production and inhibit inflammatory responses through the ROS-regulated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway, exerting a protective effect in atherosclerosis models.[64]. This evidence concerns the gene HMOX1 and atherosclerosis.