Carnosine and its constituents inhibit glycation of low-density lipoproteins that promotes foam cell formation in vitro

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Glycation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by reactive aldehydes, such as glycolaldehyde, can result in the cellular accumulation of cholesterol in macrophages. In this study, it is shown that carnosine, or its constituent amino acids beta-alanine and l-histidine, can inhibit the modification of LDL by glycolaldehyde when present at equimolar concentrations to the modifying agent. This protective effect was accompanied by inhibition of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester accumulation in human monocyte-derived macrophages incubated with the glycated LDL. Thus, carnosine and its constituent amino acids may have therapeutic potential in preventing diabetes-induced atherosclerosis.

Original languageEnglish
JournalFEBS Letters
Volume581
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)1067-70
Number of pages4
ISSN0014-5793
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Cardiovascular Diseases, Carnosine, Diabetic Angiopathies, Foam Cells, Glycosylation, Histidine, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Lipoproteins, LDL, Macrophages, beta-Alanine

ID: 129671295