Advanced glycation end products and their receptor in age-related, non-communicable chronic inflammatory diseases; Overview of clinical evidence and potential contributions to disease.

Age-related, non-communicable chronic inflammatory diseases represent the major 21st century health problem. Especially in Western countries, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis are exponentially rising as the population ages. These diseases are determined by common risk factors and share an age-related onset.

Various Mechanistic Pathways Representing the Aging Process Are Altered in COPD.

Background: Accelerated aging has been proposed as a pathologic mechanism of various chronic diseases, including COPD. This concept has almost exclusively been approached by analyses of individual markers. We investigated whether COPD is associated with accelerated aging using a panel of markers representing various interconnected aspects of the aging process.

The effects of dexamethasone and oxygen in ventilated adult sheep with early phase acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threating condition with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammation is the main factor in the pathogenesis of ARDS. Therefore systemic corticosteroids are a rational therapeutic approach, but the effect of corticosteroids is still unclear.

Association of plasma sRAGE, but not esRAGE with lung function impairment in COPD.

Rationale: Plasma soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (sRAGE) is considered as a biomarker in COPD. The contribution of endogenous sRAGE (esRAGE) to the pool of plasma sRAGE and the implication of both markers in COPD pathogenesis is however not clear yet. The aim of the current study was therefore to measure plasma levels of esRAGE comparative to total sRAGE in patients with COPD and a control group.

Plasma advanced glycation end-products and skin autofluorescence are increased in COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. These conditions may lead to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). In this study we investigated in 88 COPD patients and 55 control subjects (80% ex-smokers) the association of the plasma protein-bound AGEs N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), pentosidine, N(ε)-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), and AGE accumulation in skin by skin autofluorescence (AFR), with lung function.

Decreased plasma sRAGE levels in COPD: influence of oxygen therapy.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. N(ε) -(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), an advanced glycation end product (AGE) and the soluble decoy receptor, sRAGE, are exciting new molecules linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. Here the levels of plasma sRAGE and CML were determined and their variation in relation to lung function, external long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) and plasma levels of inflammatory molecules in COPD evaluated.