Involvement of advanced glycation end products in complications of diabetic patients

Diabetes predisposes to complications affecting various organs such as eyes, blood vessels, nerves and kidneys. Hyperglycemia, the hallmark of diabetes, plays an important role in the onset of complications in diabetic patients by promoting protein glycation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The AGEs belong to a heterogeneous group of compounds resulting from non-enzymatic reactions (Maillard reaction or glycation) between sugars and amino groups of biological molecules such as proteins, lipids or nucleic acids. In patients with diabetes, elevated serum levels of AGEs are correlated with the presence of complications. The role of AGEs in nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients has been the subject of numerous studies over the past 20 years. A growing interest is currently focused on compounds that inhibit glycation because of their preventive or therapeutic potential. (c) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.