A Potential Mechanism for Diabetic Wound Healing: Cutaneous Environmental Disorders

Abstract

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is a chronic multi-organ metabolic disorder caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Diabetic complications are considered to be multifactorial with increasing evidence that one of the major pathways involved in the progression of both microvascular and macrovascular diseases is the biochemical process of advanced glycation. We will combine in vitro and in vivo studies and other related literatures to discuss the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which may exert deleterious effects in diabetes. Dr Shuliang Lu puts forward the theory of ‘cutaneous environmental disor- ders’ mediated by AGEs. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) was first described as a signal transduction receptor for AGEs. Recent discoveries regarding AGEs-RAGE interactions expanded our understanding of the mechanisms by which RAGE evoked pathological consequences. In this chapter, we report on the biology of AGEs, AGEs and wound healing, as well as address current strategies to interrupt the formation of AGEs and underscore strategies by which antagonism of RAGE and AGEs-RAGE crosslinks may be realized.