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. 2021 May 17;10(5):789. doi: 10.3390/antiox10050789

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the effects of HO-1 activation and generation of its metabolic products in healthy and cancer cells. HO-1 activation is involved in antioxidant defenses and in healthy cells promotes the hormetic response and cancer prevention through the generation of bilirubin and CO. In cancer cells, HO-1 favors cancer progression, and its inhibition represents a therapeutic opportunity. However, also HO-1 over-activation can be proposed as a therapeutic option, as it can favor unconventional ferroptosis through the accumulation of pro-oxidant-free iron.