IMIDAZOLONE, A NOVEL ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCT, IS PRESENT AT HIGH-LEVELS IN KIDNEYS OF RATS WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES

We produced a monoclonal antibody to imidazolones A and B, novel advan ced glycation end products formed from the reaction of 3-deoxyglucoson e (3-DG) with the guanidino group of arginine. Liquid chromatography/m ass spectrometry demonstrated that the formation of imidazolone A by i ncubating 3-DG with arginine is very rapid, reaching a maximum concent ration within 24 h, but the formation of imidazolone B is very slow an d low in quantity even after 2 weeks. Thus, at physiological condition s the formation of imidazolone A is dominant, while that of imidazolon e B is negligible. Immunochemistry demonstrated that the imidazolone c ontent in the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was sign ificantly higher than in the control rats. Serum levels of 3-DG in the diabetic rats were also significantly higher than in control rats. 3- DG attacks the arginine residues of the tissue proteins, producing imi dazolone at high levels in the kidneys affected by diabetic nephropath y. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.