Advanced glycosylation end products stimulate the growth but inhibit the prostacyclin‐producing ability of endothelial cells through interactions with their receptors

The influence of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE) on endothelial cells was investigated. When human umbilical endothelial cells were cultured with AGE-bovine serum albumin, viable cell number as well as DNA synthesis was significantly stimulated, whereas prostacyclin production by the endothelial cells was decreased. Antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides against mRNA coding for AGE receptor were found to reverse both the AGE-induced growth stimulation and the inhibition of prostacyclin production in endothelial cells. These results thus suggest that AGE ligand-receptor interactions in endothelial cells can promote angiogenesis and thrombogenesis, leading to the development of diabetic vascular complications.