title: Inhibitors of advanced glycation end-products prevent loss of enteric neuronal nitric oxide synthase in diabetic rats.
abstract: Gastrointestinal dysfunction is common in diabetes, and several studies indicate that loss of neuronal nitrergic inhibition may play an important role in its pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain largely unknown. We have previously shown that advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formed by non-enzymatic glycation dependent processes, can inhibit the expression of intestinal neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in vitro acting via their receptor, receptor for AGEs. We now hypothesized that this effect may also be important in experimental diabetes in vivo. We aimed to evaluate the role of AGEs on duodenal nNOS expression and the effects of aminoguanidine (a drug that prevents AGE formation) and ALT-711 (AGE cross-link breaker) in experimental diabetes. Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were randomized to no treatment, treatment with aminoguanidine (1 g L(-1) daily through drinking water) at the induction of diabetes, or treatment with ALT-711 (3 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally), beginning at week 6. A fourth group was used as healthy controls. We performed real time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry to detect nNOS expression. AGE levels were analysed using sandwich ELISA. Diabetes enhanced accumulation of AGEs in serum, an effect that was prevented by treatment with aminoguanidine and ALT-711. Further, diabetic rats showed a significant reduction in duodenal nNOS expression by mRNA, protein and immunocytochemistry, an effect that was prevented by aminoguanidine. ALT-711 had similar effects on nNOS protein and immunohistochemistry (but not on mRNA levels). The generation of AGEs in diabetes results in loss of intestinal nNOS expression and may be responsible for enteric dysfunction in this condition. This study suggests that treatment directed against AGEs may be useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal complications of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: The Enteric Neuromuscular Disorders and Pain (END-PAIN) Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: P V S
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Jeyabal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: P R R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gangula
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Micci
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pasricha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006146:Guanidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D013844:Thiazoles; C406794:alagebrium; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C004479:pimagedine