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A protective player in the vascular response to injury

Heme oxygenase-1, an enzyme expressed during injury, reduces vasoconstriction and inhibits formation of free radicals. Someday it might be used as a local therapeutic agent at sites of vascular injury (Pages 693–698).

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Figure 1: Vascular damage can be caused by a variety of mechanisms, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes or cigarette smoking.

Renee Lucas

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Schwartz, S. A protective player in the vascular response to injury. Nat Med 7, 656–657 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/89019

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