RECEPTORS FOR ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCTS (AGE) - EXPRESSION BY ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS IN NONDIABETIC UREMIC PATIENTS

Background. Cellular actions of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) are mediated by a receptor for AGE (RAGE), a novel integral membrane p rotein. Immunohistochemical studies show only low-level RAGE antigen e xpression in endothelial cells. Design. It was the purpose of the stud y to compare expression of RAGE antigen by endothelial cells in non-di abetic uraemic patients (n = 8) with non-uraemic controls (n = 11). Sa mples of arterial tissue were obtained at the time of renal transplant ation (in uraemic patients) and abdominal surgery (in controls). RAGE antigen was visualized using guinea-pig anti-RAGE IgG and PAP techniqu e.Results. Marked staining for RAGE was noted in endothelial cells, bo th arterial endothelium and endothelium of vasa vasorum of normoglycae mic uraemic patients, but was not demonstrable in endothelial cells of large arteries and only faintly expressed in vasa vasorum of non-urae mic individuals. Conclusion. Normal endothelial cells do not constitua lly express RAGE antigen, in contrast it is expressed by arterial and capillary endothelial cells of uraemic patients. The observation is of note in view of the putative role of AGE of causing atherosclerotic a nd non-atherosclerotic vascular lesions.