DETERMINATION OF ANTI-AGE ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN SERUM

The aim of this study was to develop an immunoenzyme method for the de termination of anti-AGE antibodies in human serum. Human aortic elasti n glycated in vitro (AGE-elastin) was used as an antigen, expressing A GE-epitopes, common to all glycated proteins. Polyclonal serum from gu inea-pig against AGE-Hemocyanin was obtained according to Nakayama et al. [(1989) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 162: 740-45] and its specificit y was tested via direct and competitive ELISA. Sera of 20 type 1 diabe tic patients and 20 healthy subjects were tested using the method desc ribed. Seventeen patients had elevated levels of competing factors tha t may be anti-AGE antibodies, compared with the healthy group. The met hod could be used for investigation of different clinical groups of ty pe 1 diabetic patients. Such a study would help in understanding the p athogenic role of autoantibodies against advanced glycation end produc ts of proteins for the development of long-term diabetic complications .