Asymmetric dimethylarginine
- Asymmetric dimethylarginine
- N, N -dimethyl -L-arginine
- Guanidine N, N- dimethylarginine
Fixed
Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available
ADMA or asymmetric dimethylarginine is a methylated derivative of the amino acid L- arginine, which is found in the blood plasma of the human organism. ADMA is involved in nitric oxide production, and therefore an important substance in the function of endothelial cells and blood vessels. It is caused by protein methyl transferases ( PRMTs ), the methylated proteins in bound arginine. This methylarginines be released by proteolysis. The degradation of methylated arginine derivatives such as ADMA is done by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolasen ( DDAHs ). ADMA is considered a risk marker among others for atherosclerosis.
Medical importance
Elevated levels of ADMA are found in people with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. There is a close relationship between ADMA levels in the blood plasma and the thickness of media and intima of the common carotid artery, a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis in the general population. Increased ADMA levels are a strong risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications such as heart attack or stroke in people with coronary heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Lead may experience increased ADMA levels in inactivation of nitric oxide, which normally causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, leading to vasodilation and thus to a reduction of the afterload of the heart and blood pressure. ADMA could thus contribute to the development of atherosclerosis via a reduction in nitric oxide levels in the endothelial cells of the vessel wall. The precise molecular mechanism leading to an increase of ADMA in the blood is not yet known.
Measurement methods and reference range
The determination of the ADMA is carried out in analytical or clinical laboratory using HPLC, ELISA, or mass spectrometry. In a healthy human blood concentration of an average of 0.7 micromol / L ( micromoles per liter ) is considered a standard value.