Enzyme provides built-in protection against atherosclerosis

How is your doctor fixing your atherosclerosis?
http://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/medical-news-article/2015/07/01/6216664/?

University of Michigan Health System, 07/01/2015

New research suggests enzyme CD39 capable of clearing plaque that leads to heart attacks, strokes. Staying active, never smoking and controlling diabetes and cholesterol can prevent hardening of the arteries, but effective treatment of atherosclerosis could come down to harnessing an enzyme already built in to the blood vessels. In a new study published online ahead of print in the August issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation, scientists at the University of Michigan Health System used mice to show that a human membrane–bound enzyme called CD39, which can clear the dangerous buildup of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from the bloodstream, significantly reduces atherosclerosis in mice. The enzyme is known for its ability to control blood clots and reduce inflammation, but the study led by Yogen Kanthi, M.D., and David Pinsky, M.D., is the first to reveal a major role of CD39 in reducing atherosclerosis.