You are treating a 48-year-old white woman who is clearly manifesting signs and symptoms of the metabolic syndrome, MetS. Given the correlation between MetS and coronary artery disease (CAD), treatment to increase expression of which of the following would be most beneficial to treating intravascular inflammation associated with MetS in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator and has anti-inflammatory properties. Increasing NO expression can help reduce intravascular inflammation and improve endothelial function, which is beneficial in treating metabolic syndrome and reducing the risk of coronary artery disease.  Increased levels of nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial cells are an important component in intravascular integrity, vascular tone, and the regulation of coagulation. In addition to modulating vascular tone by activating signaling events in the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cell-derived NO reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, reduces leukocyte and monocyte recruitment and adhesion to the endothelium, inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, inhibits apoptosis, and attenuates platelet aggregation. In addition, events initiated by NO that are important for blood coagulation include inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion and inhibition of neutrophil adhesion to platelets and to the vascular endothelium.

You Are Treating a 48-Year-Old White Woman Who Is Clearly