Controlling the receptor for advanced glycation end-products to conquer diabetic vascular complications.

Diabetic vascular complications, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and microangiopathy, lead to high rates of morbidity and mortality in patients with long-term diabetes. Extensive intracellular and extracellular formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) is considered a causative factor in vascular injuries in diabetes. Receptor-dependent mechanisms are involved in AGE-induced cellular dysfunction and tissue damage. The receptor for AGE (RAGE), originally an AGE-binding receptor, is now recognized as a member of pattern-recognition receptors and a pro-inflammatory molecular device that mediates danger signals to the body. Previous animal studies have shown RAGE dependent of diabetic vascular injuries. Prophylactic and therapeutic strategies focusing on RAGE and its ligand axis will be of great importance in conquering diabetic vascular complications. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2011.00191.x, 2012).