title: Emerging role of advanced glycation-end products (AGEs) in the pathobiology of eye diseases.
abstract: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in vision loss associated with macula degeneration, cataract formation, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This pathogenic potential is mainly attributed to their accumulation in ocular tissues where they mediate aberrant crosslinking of extracellular matrix proteins and disruption of endothelial junctional complexes that affects cell permeability, mediates angiogenesis and breakdown of the inner blood-retinal barrier. Furthermore, AGEs severely affect cellular metabolism by disrupting ATP production, enhancing oxidative stress and modulating gene expression of anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory genes. Elucidation of AGE-induced mechanisms of action in different eye compartments will help in the understanding of the complex cellular and molecular processes associated with eye diseases. Several pharmaceutical agents with anti-glycating and anti-oxidant properties as well as AGE crosslink 'breakers' have been currently applied to eye diseases. The role of diet and the beneficial effects of certain nutriceuticals provide an alternative way to manage chronic visual disorders that affect the quality of life of millions of people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stylianos A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kandarakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piperi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 'AHEPA' Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Topouzis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: papavas@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Papavassiliou
mesh_terms: D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000503:physiopathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced
keywords: AGEs; Angiogenesis; Anti-glycating agents; Blood-retinal barrier; Eye disease; Inflammation