Aldose reductase and its inhibition in the control of diabetic complications.

Aldose reductase is a rate limiting enzyme in the polyol pathway associated with the conversion of glucose to sorbitol. The enzyme is located in the eye (cornea, retina, lens), kidney, myelin sheath, and also in other tissues less involved in diabetic complications. Experiments in diabetic animals have implicated sorbitol accumulation in the lens to the development of cataracts. The use of inhibitors of aldose reductase in animal studies has demonstrated that diabetic complications such as cataracts, nephropathy, and slowing of nerve conduction can be ameliorated. While an osmotic effect can explain the physical changes in the lens leading to cataract formation, the effect of sorbitol accumulation in other tissues and the resulting diabetic complications has been linked to the depletion of myoinositol content resulting in a derangement of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase activity. Since glucose and other hexoses are poor substrates for aldose reductase, it is only in hyperglycemia when the enzyme hexokinase is saturated that aldose reductase is activated, leading to accumulation of sorbitol. The kinetics of inhibition of aldose reductase by a variety of inhibitors has been delineated. The dose required varies from inhibitor to inhibitor and is consistent with their inhibition constants. Toxicity is a consideration in the use of some of the inhibitors, as was demonstrated with sorbinil which caused hypersensitivity reactions in 10 percent of patients. Other inhibitors such as tolerant have shown efficacy and are under clinical investigation. Interpretation of results obtained with aldose reductase inhibitor therapy in human subjects suggest that these inhibitors are effective at early stages of diabetic complications.