title: Pharmacological prevention of cardiovascular aging--targeting the Maillard reaction.
abstract: The development of myocardial and large vessel stiffness with aging underlies the development of diastolic heart failure and isolated systolic hypertension. Nonenzymatic reaction between glucose and proteins (Maillard reaction) leading to collagen crosslinking in the myocardium and arterial wall has been implicated in age-related increase in cardiovascular stiffness. In the present issue, Chang et al. show that aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of protein crosslinking, retards age-related decline in the elastic properties of the left ventricle and arteries. The significance of these findings is discussed in this commentary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Rambam Medical Center, POB 9602, Haifa 31096, Israel. d_aronson@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aronson
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004548:Elasticity; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D006031:Glycosylation; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015416:Maillard Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006146:Guanidines; C004479:pimagedine