Breakers of advanced glycation end products restore large artery properties in experimental diabetes

BHR Wolffenbuttel, CM Boulanger… - Proceedings of the …, 1998 - National Acad Sciences
BHR Wolffenbuttel, CM Boulanger, FRL Crijns, MSP Huijberts, P Poitevin, GNM Swennen…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1998National Acad Sciences
Glucose and other reducing sugars react with proteins by a nonenzymatic, posttranslational
modification process called nonenzymatic glycation. The formation of advanced glycation
end products (AGEs) on connective tissue and matrix components accounts largely for the
increase in collagen crosslinking that accompanies normal aging and which occurs at an
accelerated rate in diabetes, leading to an increase in arterial stiffness. A new class of AGE
crosslink “breakers” reacts with and cleaves these covalent, AGE-derived protein crosslinks …
Glucose and other reducing sugars react with proteins by a nonenzymatic, posttranslational modification process called nonenzymatic glycation. The formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on connective tissue and matrix components accounts largely for the increase in collagen crosslinking that accompanies normal aging and which occurs at an accelerated rate in diabetes, leading to an increase in arterial stiffness. A new class of AGE crosslink “breakers” reacts with and cleaves these covalent, AGE-derived protein crosslinks. Treatment of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes with the AGE-breaker ALT-711 for 1–3 weeks reversed the diabetes-induced increase of large artery stiffness as measured by systemic arterial compliance, aortic impedance, and carotid artery compliance and distensibility. These findings will have considerable implications for the treatment of patients with diabetes-related complications and aging.
National Acad Sciences