title: Dipyridamole: a drug with unrecognized antioxidant activity.
abstract: Dipyridamole was introduced on the market as coronary vasodilator drug more than half a century ago and is still used as antithrombotic and vasodilator. Among cellular targets, it inhibits phosphodiesterases and raises extracellular levels of adenosine through inhibition of adenosine reuptake by red blood cells. As a consequence, endocellular levels of cyclic nucleotides are upregulated. The rise of cGMP in vascular smooth muscle cells and of cAMP in platelets provide the mechanism of vasodilation and antithrombosis, which are further potentiated by the release of PGI2 consequent on the increase in endothelial cell cAMP. These effects support the use of dipyridamole in cardiovascular diseases in which the drug is approved for the secondary prevention of cerebrovascular events. On the other hand, dipyridamole has been shown to possess a potent, little perceived, antioxidant activity of potential use in the several fields where pathophysiological pathways are dependent on oxidative stress, including those occurring in atherosclerosis, thrombosis, CNS-related diseases, and cancer.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciacciarelli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zerbinati
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Violi
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Vascular Biology, Atherothrombosis & Mass Spectrometry Lab, corso della Republica 79, 04100 Latina. Italy. luigi.iuliano@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iuliano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004176:Dipyridamole