Open AccessThe emerging role of asymmetric dimethylarginine in cardiovascular disease
Author(s) -
Roman N. Rodionov,
Ilya O. Blokhin,
М. М. Галагудза,
Е. В. Шляхто,
С. Р. Лентц
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
arterialʹnaâ gipertenziâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.126
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2411-8524
pISSN - 1607-419X
DOI - 10.18705/1607-419x-2008-14-4-306-314
Subject(s) - asymmetric dimethylarginine , arginine , nitric oxide , endothelial dysfunction , nitric oxide synthase , medicine , disease , biomarker , risk factor , bioinformatics , pharmacology , amino acid , biochemistry , biology
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a methylated derivative of the amino acid L-arginine that is receiving increasing attention as a cardiovascular risk factor. As a structural analog of L-arginine, ADMA can inhibit the activity of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, resulting in decreased NO production in blood vessels and other tissues. While substantial epidemiological and experimental evidence links elevated levels of ADMA with endothelial dysfunction and adverse vascular events, the causative role of ADMA in cardiovascular diseases remains still largely unproven. To definitively determine whether ADMA is a biomarker or a causative risk factor, a better understanding of the biochemistry, genetics, and pharmacology of the ADMA metabolic pathways is needed.