Heme oxygenase 1 belongs to the heme oxygenase family and is an essential enzyme in heme catabolism. It cleaves heme to form biliverdin, which is subsequently converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase, and carbon monoxide, a putative neurotransmitter. Also this protein is known to play an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function and its adaptive response to a variety of stressors.