Chemical modification of proteins by lipids in diabetes

Advanced glycation and lipoxidation endproducts (AGE/ALE) increase in tissue proteins with age and at an accelerated rate in diabetes. This Review focuses on the nature and source of AGEs/ALEs and the factors affecting their formation in tissue and plasma proteins. Lipids are identified as an important source of chemical modification of proteins in diabetes, and the role of diabetes, dyslipidemia and renal disease in formation of AGEs/ALEs is reviewed. The article concludes with a discussion of ELISA assays for AGEs/ALEs and the merits of measuring AGEs/ALEs in the clinical laboratory.