An advanced glycation endproduct cross-link breaker can reverse age-related increases in myocardial stiffness

M Asif, J Egan, S Vasan… - Proceedings of the …, 2000 - National Acad Sciences
M Asif, J Egan, S Vasan, GN Jyothirmayi, MR Masurekar, S Lopez, C Williams, RL Torres…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2000National Acad Sciences
Decreased elasticity of the cardiovascular system is one of the hallmarks of the normal aging
process of mammals. A potential explanation for this decreased elasticity is that glucose can
react nonenzymatically with long-lived proteins, such as collagen and lens crystallin, and
link them together, producing advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). Previous studies
have shown that aminoguanidine, an AGE inhibitor, can prevent glucose cross-linking of
proteins and the loss of elasticity associated with aging and diabetes. Recently, an AGE …
Decreased elasticity of the cardiovascular system is one of the hallmarks of the normal aging process of mammals. A potential explanation for this decreased elasticity is that glucose can react nonenzymatically with long-lived proteins, such as collagen and lens crystallin, and link them together, producing advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). Previous studies have shown that aminoguanidine, an AGE inhibitor, can prevent glucose cross-linking of proteins and the loss of elasticity associated with aging and diabetes. Recently, an AGE cross-link breaker (ALT-711) has been described, which we have evaluated in aged dogs. After 1 month of administration of ALT-711, a significant reduction (≈40%) in age-related left ventricular stiffness was observed [(57.1 ± 6.8 mmHg⋅m2/ml pretreatment and 33.1 ± 4.6 mmHg⋅m2/ml posttreatment (1 mmHg = 133 Pa)]. This decrease was accompanied by improvement in cardiac function.
National Acad Sciences