BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETIC VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Hyperglycemia is the major causal factor in the development of diabeti c vascular complications. The mechanism by which hyperglycemia causes the complications is not clear; however, it is very likely that hyperg lycemia is mediating its adverse effects through multiple mechanisms. We have summarized some of these mechanisms in this review, with parti cular attention to the effect of hyperglycemia on the activation of di acylglycerol (DAG)-protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. We have reviewed ex isting information regarding various vascular tissues that show increa sed DAG and PKC levels. In addition, the mechanism by which hyperglyce mia increases DAG as well as the cellular physiological consequences o n the activation of PKC have been reviewed.