Soluble RAGE in type 2 diabetes: association with oxidative stress.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to diabetic vascular complications by engaging the AGE receptor (RAGE). A soluble RAGE form (sRAGE) acts as a decoy domain receptor, thus decreasing AGE cellular binding. A cross-sectional comparison of sRAGE, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) plasma levels (index of endothelial dysfunction), and urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG)F(2alpha) (marker of oxidative stress) was performed between 86 diabetic patients and 43 controls.

Thromboxane-dependent CD40 ligand release in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to characterize the platelet contribution to soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), to correlate its formation with the extent of oxidative stress and platelet activation, and to investigate the effects of improved metabolic control and low-dose aspirin on these processes.

Background: Inflammation, oxidative stress, and platelet activation are involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications. The CD40-CD40L interactions result in inflammatory and pro-thrombotic responses.

High glucose levels increase major histocompatibility complex class I gene expression in thyroid cells and amplify interferon-gamma action.

Increased major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene expression in target tissues may be relevant to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this study, we questioned whether high glucose levels might increase MHC class I levels and thereby contribute to autoimmune complications. We used thyrocytes in continuous culture, because there is an increased incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis in type 2 diabetics and because transcriptional regulation of MHC class I is well studied in these cells.