ARG2 and endothelial dysfunction: ARG1 and ARG2 share the common function of metabolism in vascular endothelial cells where both isoenzymes metabolize L-arginine to urea and ornithine, resulting in reduced levels of vasoprotective nitric oxide and endothelial dysfunction.[17] Therefore, the findings of our high ARG1 levels and reduced nitric oxide metabolites in the carriers of variant genotypes at ATG7 are in line with the earlier reports.