title: Advanced glycation end product levels in eye lenses, aorta, and tail tendon in transplanted diabetic inbred Lewis rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic islet transplantation in diabetes, by restoring euglycemia, should in time correct the abnormal accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) over target tissues, thus delaying the development of late diabetic complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Homologous islet transplantation was performed in inbred Lewis rats 15 days (TA), 4 months (TB), and 8 months (TC) after streptozotocin diabetes. Group TA was studied for 12 months and groups TB and TC were studied for 4 months after transplantation. Normal (N) and diabetic (D) rats formed the control groups. Metabolic control in the transplant (T) groups was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test. Blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and body weight were determined in all groups. AGE levels were determined by spectrofluorometry in eye lens proteins and by ELISA in aortic and tail tendon collagen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T groups showed normal oral glucose tolerance tests and metabolic parameters. The latter were altered in all D groups (P<0.005 to P<0.0001 versus N and T groups). AGEs were increased in the D groups (P<0.05 to P<0.001) versus the N groups. AGEs in the TA and TB groups were not different from those of the N groups but were significantly reduced (P<0.05 to P<0.001) when compared with those of the D groups. In the TC group, eye lens AGEs were significantly elevated (P<0.001) or significantly reduced (P<0.01) when compared with those of the N or D groups, respectively. Aortic collagen AGEs were elevated (P<0.01) by comparison with those of the N groups and not statistically different from those of the D groups. Tail tendon collagen AGE levels lay between those of the N and D groups, without reaching a statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that primary and early secondary (groups TA and TB) but not late secondary (group TC) islet transplantations are capable of blocking or reducing an abnormal accumulation of AGEs, thus confirming the importance of preventive transplantation therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. maurizio.sensi@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sensi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagratella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vetri
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Purrello
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andreani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vecci
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Di Mario
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000737:chemistry*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000032:analysis*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013311:Streptozocin; D013623:Tail; D013710:Tendons / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D013311:Streptozocin; D003094:Collagen