Cited by 411Advanced Glycation End Products researchPotato Plant ResearchGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 314 of the 320 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 6 of the 433 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and other adducts in aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated tissue injury

Open access

Abstract

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are potentially harmful and heterogeneous molecules derived from nonenzymatic glycation. The pathological implications of AGEs are ascribed to their ability to promote oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Recent studies in basic and translational research have revealed the contributing roles of AGEs in the development and progression of various aging-related pathological conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular complications, gut microbiome-associated illnesses, liver or neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Excessive chronic and/or acute binge consumption of alcohol (ethanol), a widely consumed addictive substance, is known to cause more than 200 diseases, including alcohol use disorder (addiction), alcoholic liver disease, and brain damage. However, despite the considerable amount of research in this area, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which alcohol abuse causes cellular toxicity and organ damage remain to be further characterized. In this review, we first briefly describe the properties of AGEs: their formation, accumulation, and receptor interactions. We then focus on the causative functions of AGEs that impact various aging-related diseases. We also highlight the biological connection of AGE–alcohol–adduct formations to alcohol-mediated tissue injury. Finally, we describe the potential translational research opportunities for treatment of various AGE- and/or alcohol-related adduct-associated disorders according to the mechanistic insights presented.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review describes how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form endogenously and exogenously, accumulate, interact with RAGE and other receptors, and contribute to aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated multiorgan injury. It also proposes biological connections between AGEs, alcohol metabolites, and adduct formation, with translational strategies to reduce AGE burden.

Key findings

  • AGEs are heterogeneous, irreversible products of nonenzymatic glycation that promote oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and tissue injury; AGE–RAGE signaling is implicated in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, gut microbiome-associated disease, neurodegenerative disease, and liver disease.
  • Alcohol consumption causes more than 200 diseases and injuries worldwide; in the United States alone, more than 250 billion dollars are lost annually due to alcoholism-related disorders and consequences.
  • Less than 30% of dietary AGEs are absorbed in the intestine after ingestion, and less than 15% are excreted in urine and feces, suggesting the remaining unabsorbed AGEs are degraded by gut microorganisms.
  • Alcohol metabolism via CYP2E1 can generate reactive metabolites and adducts, including acetaldehyde (AA), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), MAA adducts, hydroxyethyl radicals, and AA-AGE adducts; AA-AGE formation is observed after chronic alcohol exposure and is linked to RAGE expression, oxidative stress, steatosis, apoptosis, and ALD/AFLD.
  • In the brain under normal conditions, cerebral catalase accounts for more than 60% of ethanol oxidation; CYP2E1 has a higher Km (~10 mM for ethanol) than ADH (Km <1 mM for ethanol) and is inducible by ethanol.
  • Cooking methods affect dietary AGEs: boiling or stewing meat can reduce AGE contents to one-half of that prepared by broiling, and marinating meat with acidic ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar can decrease dietary AGEs produced during high-heat cooking by as much as 50%.

Methods

  • Narrative review of basic and translational literature on AGE formation, accumulation, receptor interactions, aging-related diseases, alcohol metabolism, adduct formation, and translational applications.
  • Synthesizes evidence from experimental animal models, cell culture models, human samples, autopsied tissues, and clinical/observational studies; includes summary tables (Table 1, Table 2) and figures (Fig. 1, Fig. 2).
  • Main analysis is qualitative mechanistic synthesis; no systematic review protocol, meta-analysis, or primary data collection is reported.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the underlying molecular mechanisms by which alcohol exerts cellular toxicity and organ damage remain to be further characterized.
  • The paper notes that several roles of AGEs, alcohol, and adducts in specific organs need further study, including heart, gut, pancreas, serum, erythrocytes, and testis; it also states that plasma AGE differences in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are sex-dependent and require careful interpretation.
  • Evident from the text: this is a narrative review without systematic search or quantitative synthesis, and many proposed preventive compounds have not been specifically evaluated for AGE-associated adduct formation.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s12276-021-00561-7

Cites

314 of 314 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Fig. 1 Overview of the biological connections in AGE–alcohol–adduct formations. Under conditions that increase lipid peroxidation, polyol pathway, and Maillard reaction, such as exposure to alcohol and/or high n-6 fat diets or high fructose drinks, different AGEs are produced. Ethanol and its reactive metabolites generated by CYP2E1 are also likely involved in the AGE synthesis pathways to produce the final acetaldehyde and AGE (AA-AGE) adducts. The formation of AA-AGE adducts can be observed after chronic alcohol exposure. These AA-AGE adducts exhibit similar properties (e.g., brown color and polymerization) as the AGE adducts cross-link with sugar molecules, and they are different from MAA adducts formed by AA and MDA interactions. However, treatment with an antioxidant can halt AA-AGE adduct formation, supporting the idea that AA-AGE adducts can be generated from a Schiff base product similar to AA adducts and AGEs.
Fig. 1 Overview of the biological connections in AGE–alcohol–adduct formations. Under conditions that increase lipid peroxidation, polyol pathway, and Maillard reaction, such as exposure to alcohol and/or high n-6 fat diets or high fructose drinks, different AGEs are produced. Ethanol and its reactive metabolites generated by CYP2E1 are also likely involved in the AGE synthesis pathways to produce the final acetaldehyde and AGE (AA-AGE) adducts. The formation of AA-AGE adducts can be observed after chronic alcohol exposure. These AA-AGE adducts exhibit similar properties (e.g., brown color and polymerization) as the AGE adducts cross-link with sugar molecules, and they are different from MAA adducts formed by AA and MDA interactions. However, treatment with an antioxidant can halt AA-AGE adduct formation, supporting the idea that AA-AGE adducts can be generated from a Schiff base product similar to AA adducts and AGEs.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Overview of the causative functions of AGEs in aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated multiorgan dysfunction or damage. AGEs can be produced endogenously and exogenously. The accumulation of AGEs and the interaction of AGE-RAGE play causative roles in various aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated tissue injuries by interfering with cell signaling pathways and forming adducts with cellular macromolecules, contributing to their inactivation and pathophysiology in many tissues/organs. These suggest biological connections between AGEs and alcohol adduct formation in relation to alcohol-mediated inflammation, gut leakiness, and multiorgan damage.
Fig. 2 Overview of the causative functions of AGEs in aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated multiorgan dysfunction or damage. AGEs can be produced endogenously and exogenously. The accumulation of AGEs and the interaction of AGE-RAGE play causative roles in various aging-related diseases and alcohol-mediated tissue injuries by interfering with cell signaling pathways and forming adducts with cellular macromolecules, contributing to their inactivation and pathophysiology in many tissues/organs. These suggest biological connections between AGEs and alcohol adduct formation in relation to alcohol-mediated inflammation, gut leakiness, and multiorgan damage.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

179 Not checked yet · 7 Own interpretation · 4 Partly supported · 1 Supported so far · 1 No basis given · accuracy not yet measured

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Show all 90 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 94
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 9
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3
102 of 102
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The underlying molecular mechanisms by which alcohol abuse causes cellular toxicity and organ damage remain to be further characterized.

    “However, despite the considerable amount of research in this area, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which alcohol abuse causes cellular toxicity and organ damage remain to be further characterized.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Water content, cooking method, temperature and time, and food pH determine the final amount of AGEs.

    “In addition, the water content, cooking method, temperature and time, and food pH are crucial to the final amount of AGEs.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from experimental rodent and cell culture models about CYP2E1 and adduct formation apply to human alcohol-mediated tissue injury.

    “as demonstrated in experimental rodent and cell culture models137,180,216,273”
3 of 3

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Jamal, M. et al. in Neuroscience of Alcohol (ed Victor R. Preedy) 39–46 (Academic Press, 2019).

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Metadata

Authors
Rungratanawanich, W., Qu, Y., Wang, X., Essa, M. M., & Song, B.-J.
Affiliations
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Sultan Qaboos University (OM)
Corresponding author
  • Rungratanawanich, Wiramon
  • Song, Byoung-Joon
Venue
Experimental & Molecular Medicine
Published
2021-02
Volume
53
Issue
2
Pages
168-188
ISSN
  • 1226-3613 (ISSN-L)
  • 2092-6413
OpenAlex
W3126459824
Cited by
411
References
320
Citations by year
2026: 75 · 2025: 108 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 28
FWCI
7.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Experimental & Molecular Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Intramural fund of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
  • Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School (Wang)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Clinical Biochemistry › Advanced Glycation End Products research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Potato Plant Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
Keywords
advanced glycation end products, glycation, AGE receptor, age-related diseases, binge drinking, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, gut microbiota, alcoholic liver disease, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, cytotoxicity
MeSH terms
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products, Aging, Ethanol, Animals, Disease Susceptibility, Extracellular Space, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Organ Specificity, Protein Processing, Post-Translational, Lipid Peroxidation, Biomarkers, Glycation End Products, Advanced, Oxidative Stress, Intracellular Space

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