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• Counteracts smooth muscle cell proliferation.
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• Decreases platelet adhesiveness.
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• Decreases adhesiveness of the endothelial layer to monocytic WBCs (the "teflon effect").
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• Anti-inflammatory effect.
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• Anti-oxidant effect. It scavenges reactive oxygen species locally, and acts as a chain-breaking antioxidant to scavenge ROS.
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• Anti-fibrotic effect. When NO is normal or elevated, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are quiescent; conversely if NO is low, MMPs are elevated and active. MMPs are redox sensitive.
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• NO inhibits prooxidant actions of uric acid during copper-mediated LDL oxidation.
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• NO has diverse anti-atherosclerotic actions on the arterial vessel wall including antioxidant effects by direct scavenging of ROS – reactive nitrogen species RNS.
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