HMOX1 and autism spectrum disorder: However, in a recent pilot study for a clinical trial of SF in children with autism spectrum disorder, the expression of cytoprotective markers (NQO1, AKR1C1, HO-1, HSP70, and HSP27) increased and the expression of some pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, and TNF-α) decreased in PBMC after a longer SF treatment time (2 weeks).