Abstract:
Aims: To investigate the formation of the advanced glycation end product (AGE) N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)-lysine (CML) in tissues, in body fluids, and in circulating blood cells in diabetes mellitus and chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Furthermore, it was tested whether CML is (a) produced intracellularly in macrophages and granulocytes, (b) a product of lipid peroxidation, (c) formed under the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Results: By a sensitive HPLC method it was determined that diabetic patients exhibited a 30 % increase in the urinary excretion of CML mostly due to an increase of CML-albumin. By immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot techniques, an increase in the formation of CML-modified proteins in nerve tissue, muscle tissue and cartilage tissue has been found in diabetics and in various chronic inflammatory and degenerative conditions. A common feature was the intracellular localisation of CML accumulation in resident and infiltrating inflammatory cells. The kinetic of CML formation and the contribution of the phagocytic (PHOX) form of NADPH oxidase was analysed in monocytic and neuroglial cell lines. In stimulated (PMA 20nM) Mono Mac 6 cells, a time-dependent CML modification of intracellular proteins was observed within 1-3 days. This effect could be blocked by DPI (100mM), an unspecific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Inhibitors of xanthine oxidase (allopurinol 300mM) or of NO-Synthase (L-NAME) had no effect. The effects of various inhibitors of mitochondrial ROS production were not conclusive. N11 cells showed CML-formation within 24 h. CML formation was not reduced in NADPH oxidase deficient mutants, neither in monocytic PLB (PHOX-deficient) nor in microglial N11/6 cells (PHOX-deficient).
Conclusion: In summary, it has been demonstrated that CML is formed in tissues and in activated monocytes. The observed CML modification of cellular proteins is independent of NADPH oxidase or xanthine oxidase. The direct or indirect inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production does not lead to a general reduction of CML formation. Other unidentified sources of reactive oxygen species or different mechanisms appear to be responsible for the formation of CML.