RAGE, receptor of advanced glycation endoproducts, negatively regulates chondrocytes differentiation

Therapeutic potential of targeting the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) by small molecule inhibitors

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a 45 kDa transmembrane receptor of immunoglobulin family that can bind to various endogenous and exogenous ligands and initiate the inflammatory downstream signaling pathways. RAGE is involved in various disorders including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. This review summarizes the structural features of RAGE and its various isoforms along with their pathological effects. Mainly, the article emphasized on the translational significance of antagonizing the interactions of RAGE with its ligands using small molecules reported in the last 5 years and discusses future approaches that could be employed to block the interactions in the treatment of chronic inflammatory ailments. The RAGE inhibitors described in this article could prove as a powerful approach in the management of immune‐inflammatory diseases. A critical review of the literature suggests that there is a dire need to dive deeper into the molecular mechanism of action to resolve critical issues that must be addressed to understand RAGE‐targeting therapy and long‐term blockade of RAGE in human diseases.

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), Receptor for AGEs, Diabetes, and Bone: Review of the Literature

Diabetes compromises bone cell metabolism and function, resulting in increased risk of fragility fracture. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) interact with the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) and can make a meaningful contribution to bone cell metabolism and/or alter function. Searches in PubMed using the key words "advanced glycation end-product," "RAGE," "sRAGE," "bone," and "diabetes" were made to explain some of the clinical outcomes of diabetes in bone metabolism through the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. All published clinical studies were included in tables. The AGE-RAGE signaling pathway participates in diabetic complications, including diabetic osteopathy. Some clinical results in diabetic patients, such as reduced bone density, suppressed bone turnover markers, and bone quality impairment, could be potentially due to AGE-RAGE signaling consequences. However, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway has some helpful roles in the bone, including an increase in osteogenic function. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE), as a ligand decoy, may increase in either conditions of RAGE production or destruction, and then it cannot always reflect the AGE-RAGE signaling. Recombinant sRAGE can block the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway but is associated with some limitations, such as accessibility to AGEs, an increase in other RAGE ligands, and a long half-life (24 hours), which is associated with losing the beneficial effect of AGE/RAGE. As a result, sRAGE is not a helpful marker to assess activity of the RAGE signaling pathway. The recombinant sRAGE cannot be translated into clinical practice due to its limitations.

Targeting the Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE): A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective

The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is an ubiquitous, transmembrane, immunoglobulin-like receptor that exists in multiple isoforms and binds to a diverse range of endogenous extracellular ligands and intracellular effectors. Ligand binding at the extracellular domain of RAGE initiates a complex intracellular signaling cascade, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), immunoinflammatory effects, cellular proliferation, or apoptosis with concomitant upregulation of RAGE itself. To date, research has mainly focused on the correlation between RAGE activity and pathological conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Because RAGE plays a role in many pathological disorders, it has become an attractive target for the development of inhibitors at the extracellular and intracellular domains. This review describes the role of endogenous RAGE ligands/effectors in normo- and pathophysiological processes, summarizes the current status of exogenous small-molecule inhibitors of RAGE and concludes by identifying key strategies for future therapeutic intervention.

Protective and therapeutic effects of fucoxanthin against sunburn caused by UV irradiation

Mild exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is also harmful and hazardous to the skin and often causes a photosensitivity disorder accompanied by sunburn. To understand the action of UV on the skin we performed a microarray analysis to isolate UV-sensitive genes. We show here that UV irradiation promoted sunburn and downregulated filaggrin (Flg); fucoxanthin (FX) exerted a protective effect. In vitro analysis showed that UV irradiation of human dermal fibroblasts caused production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) without cellular toxicity. ROS production was diminished by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or FX, but not by retinoic acid (RA). In vivo analysis showed that UV irradiation caused sunburn and Flg downregulation, and that FX, but not NAC, RA or clobetasol, exerted a protective effect. FX stimulated Flg promoter activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Flg promoter deletion and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that caudal type homeo box transcription factor 1 (Cdx1) was a key factor for Flg induction. Cdx1 was also downregulated in UV-exposed skin. Therefore, our data suggested that the protective effects of FX against UV-induced sunburn might be exerted by promotion of skin barrier formation through induction of Flg, unrelated to quenching of ROS or an RA-like action.