Asymmetric dimethyl L-arginine (ADMA) is a critical regulator of myocardial reperfusion injury.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction by the loss of nitric oxide (NO) is a critical event during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium. Reduced NO availability signals important pathophysiological changes leading to myocardial reperfusion injury. We have recently shown that NO biosynthesis can be disturbed by the endogenous NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor ADMA and that these changes are mediated by an impairment of its metabolism by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH).

Effect of atorvastatin on peripheral endothelial function and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction, detectable by an impaired flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, has been shown to be associated with increased levels of circulating proinflammatory markers. Therapeutic interventions such as lipid-lowering with statins increase FMD and decrease inflammatory markers, like soluble (s) E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) or high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hsCRP). The effect of atorvastatin therapy on both FMD and inflammatory markers in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been investigated.

Effect of atorvastatin on circulating proinflammatory T-lymphocyte subsets and soluble CD40 ligand in patients with stable coronary artery disease--a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Coronary atherosclerosis includes an activation of circulating T lymphocytes. Statins exert anti-inflammatory effects beyond lipid lowering. Whether these properties influence systemic T lymphocytes is unclear.

Countervailing effects of rapamycin (sirolimus) on nuclear factor-kappa B activities in neointimal and medial smooth muscle cells.

Objective: Local application of rapamycin (sirolimus) by drug-eluting stents prevents lumen obliteration after angioplasty by inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia. The effects of rapamycin on neointimal smooth muscle cells (niSMC) which are responsible for the occurrence of restenosis have not been investigated so far.

Methods And Results: Rat niSMC and medial SMC (mSMC) were obtained from balloon catheter-injured arteries.