Furthermore, studies that investigated the protective effect of statins found that oxLDL-induced EPC dysfunction and senescence were profoundly inhibited by 1 μM atorvastatin, which may occur via activation of Akt.11, 12 Indeed, statin ‘reloading’ can be used to raise the numbers of circulating EPCs in patients undergoing PCI.21 Thus, the relatively low concentration of oxLDL in the blood and liberal use of statins in our contemporary CHD population may have protected circulating EPCs against oxLDL-induced damage. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and coronary artery disorder.