Abstract

The endothelium plays a crucial role in the maintenance of vascular tone and structure. One of the major endothelium-derived vasoactive mediators is nitric oxide (NO), which is formed from the aminoacid precursor L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO is involved in a wide variety of regulatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system.
Dysfunction of the endothelial L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway is a common mechanism by which several cardiovascular risk factors mediate their deleterious effects on the vascular wall. Recently, several studies have suggested that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as an endogenous inhibitor of NOS. Therefore, measurement of arginine and its methyl derivatives in biological samples may expand knowledge on the role of these compounds in the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis.
For these reasons, the purpose of this study, has been the development of new and rapid CE methods for the quantification of ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), and arginine in plasma (free) and incorporated into proteins in capillary zonal electrophoresis. This assay is able to provide results quickly, but at the same time it is economic, reliable, reproducible and applicable in the field of biochemical, clinical and research.

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