IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ADVANCED GLYCOSYLATION ENDPRODUCTS IN CORONARY ATHEROMA AND CARDIAC TISSUE IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

Advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) accumulate on long-lived ex tracellular matrix proteins and have been implicated in the micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Within the arterial wall, AGE-modified proteins increase vascular permeability, inactivat e nitric oxide activity, and induce the release of growth-promoting cy tokines. Recently developed anti-AGE antibodies were used in an immuno histochemical analysis of coronary arteries obtained from type II diab etic and nondiabetic patients. High levels of AGE reactivity were obse rved within the atherosclerotic plaque present in vessels from selecte d patients with diabetes. Considered together with the pathological ef fects of AGEs on vascular wall homeostasis, these data support the rol e of advanced glycosylation in the rapidly progressive atherosclerosis associated with diabetes mellitus.