Skin Autofluorescence Relates to Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products and Albuminuria in Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare skin autofluorescence caused by advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) with biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction and soluble receptor for AGEs (sRAGE) in patients with diabetes. Skin autofluorescence (AF) assessed by AGE-Reader was evaluated with sRAGE and other biochemical parameters in 88 patients with diabetes (47 Type 1/T1DM/ and 41 Type 2/T2DM/) and 20 controls. Skin AF was significantly higher in T1DM and T2DM in comparison to controls (2.39 ± 0.54, 2.63 ± 0.73 versus 1.96 ± 0.33 AU; P < 0.0001). Positive correlation of AF with sRAGE was detected in T1DM and T2DM (r = 0.37, P < 0.02 and r = 0.60, P < 0.0001), but not in controls. Significantly higher AF values were found in patients with positive albuminuria as compared to those with normal albuminuria. Similarly, higher AF was detected in patients with endothelial dysfunction expressed by vWF, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. Multiple regression analysis revealed independent association of skin AF with age, sRAGE, and albumin-creatinine ratio in patients with diabetes (R 2 = 0.38). Our study confirms that AF is elevated in patients with diabetes, especially with positive albuminuria and endothelial dysfunction. The strong and independent relationship between AF and sRAGE supports the idea that AF may reflect AGEs/RAGE interactions. The exact mechanism remains to be established.

Is Vitamin D Deficiency Related to Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End Products, Markers of Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Subjects?

“…As expected, in our diabetics, the age-dependent rise of SAF was much steeper than in the nondiabetic controls. These data correspond well with studies from Netherlands [ 67 , 68 ] and from the Czech Republic [ 69 ]. In contrast, a large Australian study reported only a tendency towards higher SAF values [ 15 ].…”

Glycated Serum Albumin and AGE Receptors

“…For example, the AGE-related fluorescence of skin and the eye lens have been measured [132][133][134][135][136]. Interestingly, AGE-related fluorescence of the human skin has been correlated with vascular complications [137], renal function [132,138,139], diabetes [140], obesity [141], and even mental disorders [142].…”

Skin Autofluorescence, 5-Year Mortality, and Cardiovascular Events in Peripheral Arterial Disease

“…12 Skrha and colleagues measured SAF in subjects with type 1 or type 2 diabetes vs. control subjects and reported that in the diabetic groups, SAF levels were higher vs. controls and correlated positively with levels of sRAGE. 13 Significantly higher SAF also correlated with indices of endothelial dysfunction such as levels of von Willebrand factor, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM1), and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM1) in that study. Levels of sRAGEs were not measured in the present study by de Vos and colleagues but others measured sRAGE in human subjects with coronary artery disease and PAD and found lower levels of sRAGE in subjects with both sites of disease.…”