Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0SF, UK.
Ann Clin Biochem. 2010 Jan;47(Pt 1):17-28. doi: 10.1258/acb.2009.009196. Epub 2009 Nov 25.
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and an important cause of endothelial dysfunction. Its increased plasma concentration is associated with a variety of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and may mediate their effects on the vascular endothelium. ADMA is also an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality, and predicts outcomes in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. This work has provided insights into the role of ADMA as an endogenous regulator of nitric oxide synthesis. At present there is no specific therapy to modify ADMA concentration, but increasing interest and work on protein arginine methyltransferases and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase, which synthesize and metabolize ADMA, respectively, might provide novel therapeutic targets.
不对称二甲基精氨酸（ADMA）是一氧化氮合酶的内源性竞争性抑制剂，也是内皮功能障碍的重要原因。其血浆浓度升高与多种传统心血管危险因素相关，并可能介导其对血管内皮的作用。ADMA 也是心血管事件和死亡的独立预测因子，并可预测重症监护病房危重病患者的结局。这项工作深入了解了 ADMA 作为内源性一氧化氮合成调节剂的作用。目前尚无特异性治疗方法来改变 ADMA 浓度，但是对分别合成和代谢 ADMA 的蛋白质精氨酸甲基转移酶和二甲基精氨酸二甲氨基水解酶的研究兴趣日益增加，这可能为新的治疗靶点提供了依据。
