Early glycation products produce pentosidine cross-links on native proteins. novel mechanism of pentosidine formation and propagation of glycation

Bovine lens alpha-crystallin was immobilized on EAH-Sepharose gel and glycated using d-ribose. Incubation with 500 and 100 mm d-ribose for 2 and 15 days produced short-term glycated (STGP gel) and long-term glycated proteins (LTGP gel). Both STGP and LTGP gels produced oxygen free radicals. Hydroxyl radical production was twice that in STGP gel compared with the LTGP gel. Incubation with the glycated gels produced pentosidine in a mixture of N-alpha-acetylarginine + N-alpha-acetyllysine, bovine lens proteins (BLP), and lysozyme; the amounts measured with STGP gel were higher than those with LTGP gel. Reactive oxygen species scavengers decreased the formation of pentosidine. Pentosidine was also formed in BLP when incubated with water-insoluble proteins extracted from aged or brunescent human lenses. Early glycated proteins from aged or diabetic lenses were bound to a boronate affinity column, the protein-containing gel was incubated with BLP, and pentosidine was measured in the incubation mixtures. With this method we found that diabetic lens proteins produced more pentosidine on BLP than did aged lens proteins. Further investigation indicates that two and three carbon carbohydrates possibly formed from oxidative cleavage of early glycation products are involved in pentosidine formation. Based on our findings, we propose a novel pathway for pentosidine formation on native proteins from glycated proteins.     

Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins: From diabetes to cancer

Incubation of proteins with glucose leads to their non-enzymatic glycation and formation of Amadori products known as an early glycation product. Oxidative cleavage of Amadori products is considered as a major route to advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) formation in vivo. Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins or Maillard reaction is increased in diabetes mellitus due to hyperglycemia and leads to several complications such as blindness, heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney failure. The early and advanced glycation products are accumulated in plasma and tissues of diabetic patients and cause production of autoantibodies against corresponding products. The advanced glycation products are also associated with other diseases like cancer. This review summarizes current knowledge of these stage specific glycated products as common and early diagnostic biomarkers for the associated diseases and the complications with the aim of a novel therapeutic target for the diseases.     

The binding of advanced glycation end products to cell surfaces can be measured using bead-reconstituted cellular membrane proteins

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that arise from the reaction of sugars with protein side chains are supposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases and therefore the effects of AGEs on cells are the objective of numerous investigations. Although different cellular responses to AGEs can be measured in cell culture studies, knowledge about the nature of AGE-binding and the involved cell surface receptors is poor. The measurement of AGE-binding to cell surfaces bears the potential to gain a deeper understanding about the nature of AGE-binding to cell surface proteins and could be applied as a preliminary test before performing cell culture studies on AGE effects. Herein, a new material and method for the detection of AGE-binding to cell surfaces is introduced, which has the potential to facilitate the detection of binding. In the present paper, the detection of AGE-binding to cell surface proteins using an artificial system of cellular membrane proteins reconstituted on beads (TRANSIL CaCo-2) is described. The binding of a BSA-AGE derived from a 37 °C incubation with 500 mM Glc (BSA-Glc 500) and the corresponding control to this artificial system was compared with the binding to intact cells and was found to be in good agreement. Additionally, the K_d for the binding of the BSA-Glc 500 used in the study to CaCo-2 surfaces was determined using FITC-labelled samples in a flow cytometric approach. Competitive binding studies were performed using a set of non-labelled BSA-AGEs to compete with FITC-labelled BSA-Glc 500 for the cell surface binding sites. The binding was found to be inhibited to different extends, virtually depending on the degree of arginine modifications within the modified protein used for competition. Additionally, the effects of all AGEs used in the study on CaCo-2 cells was measured using the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to be induced as a primary result of AGE-receptor binding. The induction of ROS was found to linearly correlate to the capacity of the individual AGE to displace FITC-labelled BSA-Glc 500 in competitive binding studies. Therefore, the data indicate, that at least in case of CaCo-2 cells the detection of cell surface binding can serve as a reliable preliminary test for a potential cell-damaging effect of AGEs.     

Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins: a cause for complications in diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases, and is the fifth leading cause of death in most of the developed countries. It can affect nearly every organ and system in the body and may result in blindness, end stage renal disease, lower extremity amputation and increase risk of stroke, ischaemic heart diseases and peripheral vascular disease. Hyperglycemia in diabetes causes non-enzymatic glycation of free amino groups of proteins (of lysine residues) and leads to their structural and functional changes, resulting in complications of the diabetes. Glycation of proteins starts with formation of Shiff's base, followed by intermolecular rearrangement and conversion into Amadori products. When large amounts of Amadori products are formed, they undergo cross linkage to form a heterogeneous group of protein-bound moieties, termed as advanced glycated end products (AGEs). Rate of these reactions are quite slow and only proteins with large amounts of lysine residues undergo glycation with significant amounts of AGEs. The formation of AGEs is a irreversible process, causing structural and functional changes in protein leading to various complications in diabetes like nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and angiopathy. The present review discusses about role of glycation in various complications of diabetes.     

The binding of advanced glycation end products to cell surfaces can be measured using bead-reconstituted cellular membrane proteins

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that arise from the reaction of sugars with protein side chains are supposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases and therefore the effects of AGEs on cells are the objective of numerous investigations. Although different cellular responses to AGEs can be measured in cell culture studies, knowledge about the nature of AGE-binding and the involved cell surface receptors is poor. The measurement of AGE-binding to cell surfaces bears the potential to gain a deeper understanding about the nature of AGE-binding to cell surface proteins and could be applied as a preliminary test before performing cell culture studies on AGE effects. Herein, a new material and method for the detection of AGE-binding to cell surfaces is introduced, which has the potential to facilitate the detection of binding. In the present paper, the detection of AGE-binding to cell surface proteins using an artificial system of cellular membrane proteins reconstituted on beads (TRANSIL CaCo-2) is described. The binding of a BSA-AGE derived from a 37 degrees C incubation with 500 mM Glc (BSA-Glc 500) and the corresponding control to this artificial system was compared with the binding to intact cells and was found to be in good agreement. Additionally, the K(d) for the binding of the BSA-Glc 500 used in the study to CaCo-2 surfaces was determined using FITC-labelled samples in a flow cytometric approach. Competitive binding studies were performed using a set of non-labelled BSA-AGEs to compete with FITC-labelled BSA-Glc 500 for the cell surface binding sites. The binding was found to be inhibited to different extends, virtually depending on the degree of arginine modifications within the modified protein used for competition. Additionally, the effects of all AGEs used in the study on CaCo-2 cells was measured using the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to be induced as a primary result of AGE-receptor binding. The induction of ROS was found to linearly correlate to the capacity of the individual AGE to displace FITC-labelled BSA-Glc 500 in competitive binding studies. Therefore, the data indicate, that at least in case of CaCo-2 cells the detection of cell surface binding can serve as a reliable preliminary test for a potential cell-damaging effect of AGEs.     

Influence of dietary flavonoids on the glycation of plasma proteins

It has been suggested that the increasing glycation in diabetes can influence the ability of plasma proteins to bind to small molecules. Herein, the influence of flavonoids on the glycation of plasma proteins was investigated. After being incubated with glucose at 37 °C, the levels of glycated albumin (HGA) were significantly improved in healthy human plasma proteins (HPP). The inhibitory effects of flavonoids against the formation of advanced glycation products (AGEs) in HPP were determined as: galangin > apigenin > kaempferol ≈ luteolin > myricetin > quercetin. After being combined with 20 μmol L?1 of quercetin for 11 days, the fresh plasma with δ-glucose caused 323.05-32.07% inhibition of HGA formation in type II diabetes plasma proteins (TPP). Luteolin showed weak inhibition of HGA formation in TPP. However, kaempferol, galangin and apigenin hardly inhibited the formation of HGA in TPP. These results showed that more hydroxyl groups on ring B of flavonoids will enhance the inhibitory effects on the HGA formation in TPP.     

Production and characterization of antibodies to advanced glycation products on proteins

Antibodies directed against advanced glycation products formed during Maillard reaction have been generated and characterized. These antibodies reacted specifically with advanced glycation products in common among proteins incubated with glucose, but not early-stage compounds such as a Schiff base adduct and Amadori rearrangement products. Incubation of bovine serum albumin with glucose caused a time-related increase in immunoreactivity and a concomitant increase in fluorescence intensity. These antibodies may serve as a useful tool to elucidate pathophysiological roles of advanced Maillard reaction in diabetic complications and aging processes.     

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), free radicals and diabetes

Nonenzymatic glycation, i.e. binding of monosaccharides to amino groups of proteins, gives rise to complex components called "advanced glycation end-products" (AGEs), which alter protein structure and functions, and participate in diabetic long-term complications. Glycation and oxidative stress are closely linked, and are often referred to as "glycoxidation" processes. Experimental data support these interactions. a) All glycation steps generate oxygen free radicals, some of these steps being common with these of lipid peroxidation. b) AGEs bind to membrane receptors such as RAGE, and induce an oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory status. c) Glycated proteins modulate cellular oxidative functions: glycated collagens induce an inappropriate oxidative response in PMNs. d) Products of lipid peroxidation (MDA) bind to proteins and amplify glycoxidation-induced damages. Glycoxydation intensity increases in diabetes mellitus, ageing, renal failure and other pathological states with oxidative stress. Therapies aiming at limiting glycoxidation take into account its oxidative part.     

Advanced glycation and endothelial functions: a link towards vascular complications in diabetes

The formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), also called the Maillard reaction, occurs ubiquitously and irreversibly in patients with diabetes mellitus, and its consequences are especially relevant to vascular dysfunctions. The interaction of AGEs with their receptors (RAGE) has been implicated in the development of vascular complications. This interaction elicits remarkable vascular cell changes analogous to those observed in diabetes mellitus, including angiogenic and thrombogenic responses of endothelial cells, increased oxidative stress, and functional alterations in vascular tone control. This review focuses on AGEs formation, the interaction with their specific receptors and how the triggered intracellular events determine functional alterations of vascular endothelium. Finally, some potential pharmacological approaches undertaken to circumvent the deleterious effects of AGEs are also discussed.     

Polarized plasma membrane domains in cultured endothelial cells

To determine whether distinct plasma membrane domains exist in endothelial cells, we infected monolayer cultures of macro- and microvascular endothelial cells with enveloped RNA viruses known to bud selectively from either the apical or basal surface in polarized epithelial cells. We found that vesicular stomatitis (VSV) and Sendai virus emerge asymmetrically from cultured endothelial cells. This provides direct evidence for the existence of polarized plasma membrane domains in vascular endothelial cells.     

Advanced glycation end-products and advanced oxidation protein products in patients with diabetes mellitus

Accelerated glycoxidation takes part in the development of diabetic complications. We determined advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the sera of 52 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) - 18 with DM Type 1 and 34 with DM Type 2 and examined their relationship to the compensation of the disease. AGEs were estimated spectrofluorimetrically (350 nm/440 nm) whereas AOPP were determined spectro-photometrically (340 nm). AGEs were elevated only in DM Type 2 (DM2 5.11+/-1.15 x 10(3) AU/g vs controls 4.08+/-0.71 x 10(3) AU/g, p<0.001, vs DM1 4.14+/-0.86 x 10(3) AU/g, p<0.005, DM1 vs controls were not significant). AOPP were elevated significantly in both types of DM with higher levels in DM Type 2 (DM2 157.50+/-75.15 micromol/l vs healthy subjects 79.80+/-23.72 micromol/l, p<0.001, vs DM1 97.50+/-30.91 micromol/l, p<0.005, DM1 vs controls p<0.05). There was a tight correlation between AGEs and AOPP in both types of DM (DM1 r=0.75, DM2 r=0.47 (p<0.05)) and both AGEs and AOPP correlated with triglycerides. In DM Type 1 only, AGEs correlated with HbA1c r=0.47 (p<0.05) and with blood glucose. Slight but not significant differences in AGEs and AOPP levels were observed in patients with or without diabetic complications. Oxidative stress is increased in both types of DM, more in Type 2 where it contributes to the formation of glycoxidation products.     

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) prevents endothelial cell membrane resealing and regulates F-actin remodeling in a beta-catenin-dependent manner

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), an immunoglobin superfamily cell surface receptor, contributes to the vascular pathology associated with multiple disorders, including Alzheimer disease (AD), diabetic complications, and inflammatory conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Here, using the human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV-304) expressing human RAGE, we report that RAGE expression leads to an altered F-actin organization and impaired membrane resealing. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we showed that RAGE expression increases β-catenin level, which decreases F-actin stress fibers and attenuates plasma membrane resealing. These results thus suggest a negative function for RAGE in endothelial cell membrane repair and reveal a new mechanism underlying RAGE regulation of F-actin remodeling and membrane resealing.     

Induction of aldose reductase in cultured human microvascular endothelial cells by advanced glycation end products

Accelerated formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products, as well as increased flux of glucose through polyol pathway, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. We investigated effects of advanced glycation end products on the levels of aldose reductase mRNA, protein, and activity in human microvascular endothelial cells. When endothelial cells were cultured with highly glycated bovine serum albumin, aldose reductase mRNA in endothelial cells demonstrated concentration-dependent elevation. The increase in aldose reductase mRNA was accompanied by elevated protein expression and enzyme activity. Significant increase in the enzyme expression was also observed when endothelial cells were cultured with serum obtained from diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Pretreatment of the endothelial cells with probucol or vitamin E prevented the advanced glycation end products-induced increases in aldose reductase mRNA and protein. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the nuclear extracts of the endothelial cells treated with advanced glycation end products showed enhancement of specific DNA binding activity for AP-1 consensus sequence. These results indicate that accelerated formation of advanced glycation end products in vivo may elicit activation of the polyol pathway, possibly via augmented oxidative stress, and amplify endothelial cell damage leading to diabetic microvascular dysfunction.     

Beta-VLDL increases endothelial cell plasma membrane cholesterol

In this study, the distribution of free cholesterol in cholesterol-loaded endothelial cells was examined. For these studies, cell fractionation methods were used to assess marker enzyme activity and cholesterol distribution. Treatment of rabbit aortic endothelial cells for 3 days with 50 micrograms/ml of beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) or malondialdehyde-low density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) but not LDL caused a 50-100% increase in total cell unesterified cholesterol. The accumulation of free rather than esterified cholesterol in endothelial cells may be due to the ratio of hydrolysis to esterification, which we have shown in this study to be 10-fold higher in endothelial cells than in smooth muscle cells. This free cholesterol is found in the fractions enriched in plasma membrane markers and, to a lesser extent, in the Golgi-enriched fractions. The amount of cholesterol per mg of protein was increased approximately 50% in these fractions from cells treated for 3 days with 50 micrograms/ml of beta-VLDL. These increases in cholesterol content were reversible upon incubation of cells for 3 days in medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum. Alterations in several membrane functions were also observed in cholesterol-loaded cells. The activity of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme marker for plasma membranes, was decreased by 25% and an alteration in membrane-associated microfilaments was seen with phalloidin staining. This morphological change in microfilaments was reflected in a decrease in filament ends as shown by cytochalasin binding and occurred without a change in total actin or vinculin. These microfilament changes were reversible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Lipid glycation and protein glycation in diabetes and atherosclerosis

Recent instrumental analyses using a hybrid quadrupole/linear ion trap spectrometer in LC-MS/MS have demonstrated that the Maillard reaction progresses not only on proteins but also on amino residues of membrane lipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), thus forming Amadori-PE (deoxy-d-fructosyl PE) as the principal products. The plasma Amadori-PE level is 0.08 mol% of the total PE in healthy subjects and 0.15–0.29 mol% in diabetic patients. Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and pyridoxal are the most effective lipid glycation inhibitors, and the PE-pyridoxal 5′-phosphate adduct is detectable in human red blood cells. These findings are beneficial for developing a potential clinical marker for glycemic control as well as potential compounds to prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic complications and atherosclerosis. Glucose and other aldehydes, such as glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and glycolaldehyde, react with the amino residues of proteins to form Amadori products and Heynes rearrangement products. Because several advanced glycation end-product (AGE) inhibitors such as pyridoxamine and benfotiamine inhibit the development of retinopathy and neuropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, AGEs may play a role in the development of diabetic complications. In the present review, we describe the recent progress and future applications of the Maillard reaction research regarding lipid and protein modifications in diabetes and atherosclerosis.     

Oxidative cross-linking of plasma membrane arabinogalactan proteins

Monoclonal antibodies which recognize carbohydrate in arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) have revealed that certain carbohydrate epitopes at the outer plasma membrane surface are demonstratively regulated. Some epitomes are expressed according to cell position, and AGES are thought to play a role in cell—cell interaction during development. This study demonstrates that sugar beet plasma membranes contain two subagencies of AGES, with apparent molecular masses of 82 and 97 kDa, and that each subfamily consists of a small number of acidic AGP isoforms. Excision of leaves generates three additional AGP complexes with apparent molecular masses of 120, 170 and 210 kDa, with the 170 kDa complex being the major form induced by excision. The addition of millimolar concentrations of H₂O₂ to a partially purified fraction of the 82 and 97 kDa AGPs also generates AGP complexes, with the 170 kDa complex as the major form. These results indicate that the plasma membrane AGPs are a target for endogenous H₂O₂.     

Expression profiling of lymphocyte plasma membrane proteins

The physicochemical properties of plasma membrane proteins of mammalian cells render them refractory to systematic analysis by two-dimensional electrophoresis. We have therefore used in vivo cell surface labeling with a water-soluble biotinylation reagent, followed by cell lysis and membrane purification, prior to affinity capture of biotinylated proteins. Purified membrane proteins were then separated by solution-phase isoelectric focusing and SDS-PAGE and identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography electrospray/tandem mass spectrometry. Using this approach, we identified 42 plasma membrane proteins from a murine T cell hybridoma and 46 from unfractionated primary murine splenocytes. These included three unexpected proteins; nicastrin, osteoclast inhibitory lectin, and a transmembrane domain-containing hypothetical protein of 11.4 kDa. Following stimulation of murine splenocytes with phorbol ester and calcium ionophore, we observed differences in expression of CD69, major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, the glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor family-related gene product, and surface immunoglobulin M and D that were subsequently confirmed by Western blot or flow cytometric analysis. This approach offers a generic and powerful strategy for investigating differential expression of surface proteins in many cell types under varying environmental and pathophysiological conditions.