Methylglyoxal and soluble RAGE in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Association with oxidative stress

Purpose Methylglyoxal (MGO) and MGO related advance end product (AGE) are thought to contribute to the development of diabetes and its complications. The present study was intended to determine plasma MGO and sRAGE levels in T2DM patients and to assess the relationship between MGO and other parameters, such as sRAGE and oxidative markers. Methods The study was carried out in 100 control and T2DM subjects. Methylglyoxal, sRAGE, HbA1c, and other markers were measured by using a standard protocol and the relationship between variables was analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis. Results Plasma MGO levels in patients with T2DM (221.1 +/- 9.50 ng/mL) were significantly higher than in control subjects (121.1 +/- 6.52 ng/mL, P < 0.001). The plasma level of MGO was positively correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c, r = 0.50, P < 0.001). Plasma soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE) was significantly decreased in T2DM subjects (5.3 +/- 0.64 ng/mL) as compared to the control group (7.7 +/- 0.86 ng/mL, p < 0.05). However, at increased level of glycation (HbA1c > 10%), the sRAGE level was 6.2 +/- 0.42 ng/mL and was not statistically significant as compared to control healthy group (> 0.05). Moreover, we have not found any correlation between MGO and other markers (p > 0.05). Conclusions The findings of the present study showed that increased plasma MGO level is significantly associated with the HbA1c levels in T2DM patients. Moreover, the study shows that plasma sRAGE level is significantly augmented at increased level of glycation (HbA1c > 10%) in T2DM patients.