title: Serum levels of arginase I are associated with left ventricular function after myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Upregulation of arginase redirects the arginine metabolism from nitric oxide (NO) synthesis to the formation of polyamine and proline, thus causing cardiac dysfunction. NO synthesis is also impaired by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. We aimed to evaluate the impact of arginase and ADMA levels on left ventricular function after myocardial infarction (MI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from 43 MI patients and 33 controls were used. Arginase I and TNF-α were quantified by ELISA; arginine, ADMA and homocysteine concentrations by HPLC; and high-sensitive CRP by immunoassay techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arginase concentrations were higher in MI patients than in controls (121 ± 73 ng/mL vs 58 ± 41, p = 0.001) and were negatively associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.467, p = 0.019). Significantly low arginine/ADMA ratio was observed in MI patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induced arginase I after myocardial infarction may deplete the arginine pool. The changes related to arginine metabolism may have a role in ventricular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: seldabekpinar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Seldag
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekpinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gurdol
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Unlucerci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Develi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Akar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D001119:Arginase / Q000097:blood*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D001119:Arginase