| 摘要 |
<p>The invention provides methods of treating and preventing vascular diseases, by inhibiting cysteine proteases active at sites of vascular injury, particularly cathepsins K and S, by administering cystatin C or TGF-β1. Cystatin C is severely reduced in both atherosclerotic and aneurysmal aortic lesions. Also provided is a method of diagnosing a patient at risk of, or with, vascular injury by detecting low levels of circulating cystatin C.</p> |
