In line with the increased uptake of RBCs, all monocyte subsets from SCA patients displayed upregulated expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with statistical significance for C-MC and I-MC and a similar trend for NC-MC (Figure 2D), indicating an enhanced capacity to metabolize heme derived from RBC engulfment. This evidence concerns the gene HMOX1 and autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia.