EGF and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Also, in the NATHAN-NEVER study, a randomized, parallel trial including stable CAD patients with coexistent COPD, beneficial effects for 1-month DAPT with ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel with regard to a set of parameters related to endothelial function were reported, including lower circulating epidermal growth factor levels, reduced apoptosis rate and enhanced NO generation in cultured endothelial cells incubated with patients’ serum, as well as lower reactive oxygen species generation and increased SIRT1 and HES1 mRNA levels in peripheral leukocytes [24, 74, 75].