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.