Author: Demaine A. G.

Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 10, Number 15, August 2003 , pp. 1389-1398(10)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Diabetes is a major cause of mortality and morbidity due to the long term microvascular complications of this disease. There is now convincing evidence to show that genetic factors together with elevated blood glucose play an important role in the susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy as well as retinopathy. The polyol pathway is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications. Aldose reductase is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway. Polymorphisms in the promoter region as well as elsewhere in the gene have been associated with susceptibility to nephropathy, retinopathy as well as diabetic neuropathy. These associations have been replicated in patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as across ethnic groups. These polymorphisms in the promoter region are also associated with expression of the gene. Although clinical trials using inhibitors of aldose reductase to treat diabetic microvascular complications have largely been unsuccessful, the identification of the susceptibility genes may help in the design of future drug regimens.

Keywords: diabetic nephropathy; retinopathy; neuropathy; diabetes; aldose reductase; polyol pathway; genetics

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867033457359

Affiliations: 1: Molecular Medicine Research Group, ITTC Building, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BX, UK.

Publication date: 2003-08-01

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• Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in medicinal chemistry and rational drug design. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.

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