Abstract 176: Intravenous Infusion Of Glycated End Products Induces Cardiac Remodeling And Fibrosis Through RAGE Mediated Oxidative Stress

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a major role in the development of cardiovascular disorders in diabetic patients. Growing evidence has shown that the western diet is a plentiful source of exogenous AGEs. However, the direct impact of these AGEs on cardiac remodeling process is not well understood. Thus, the present study was intended to scrutinize the long term effects of circulating AGEs on cardiac extracellular matrix alterations both in vivo, Wistar rats, and in vitro, H9C2(2-1) cardiac myofibroblast cells. In vivo Rats (n=8/group) were administered with an intravenous infusion of in vitro prepared glycated-RSA (AGEs-RSA) (50 mg/kg /day for 30 days), while control animals received the non-glycated-RSA. In vitro, H9C2 (2-1) cardiac myofibroblast cells were exposed to AGEs (100µg/ml) for 24 hours. Upon AGEs infusion, a significant increase in fibrosis (3-fold, p<0.01) with increased expression of matrix genes MMP-2 and -9 (P<0.01, respectively), CTGF (p<0.01) and TGF-β (P<0.01) was found in t...