Febuxostat, a Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor, Decreased Macrophage Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Hypoxia.

Macrophages in the atheroma region produce matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and decrease plaque stability. Tissue oxygen tension decreases in the arterial wall of the atherosclerotic region. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α plays a critical role in the transcriptional activation of hypoxia inducible genes.