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Nature Medicine 7, 656 - 657 (2001)
doi:10.1038/89019

A protective player in the vascular response to injury

Stephen M. Schwartz1

  1. University of Washington Department of Pathology Seattle, Washington, USA
    e-mail: steves@u.washington.edu


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).


Vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, graft failure and restenosis are all associated with reactive oxygen-species–induced injury. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in vasospasm, the loss of endothelial-dependent vasodilatation, and a variety of toxic effects attributed to oxidized lipids.