Effects of advanced glycation end products on hyaluronan photolysis: A new mechanism of diabetic vitreopathy

Purpose: To test the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are increased in vitreous of diabetic patients, on photolysis of hyaluronan. Methods: Pullulan standards were used as molecular weight (MW) markers to obtain a calibration curve. 0.02% hyaluronan solutions were divided into AGE-added and AGE-free samples; each sample was irradiated using a xenon lamp or kept in the dark. Retention time (RT) was measured for each sample using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: RTs and logarithm of MW of pullulan standards were negatively correlated. In hyaluronan samples exposed to light, RT increased significantly for both AGE-added and AGE-free samples compared with samples kept in the dark. RT in AGE-added samples was greater by 3% than that in AGE-free samples (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Exposure to light decreases MW of hyaluronan; addition of AGEs promotes this change. The photosensitizer activity of AGEs may be associated with accelerated depolymerization of hyaluronan in diabetic patients. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.