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Methylglyoxal Induces Apoptosis through Oxidative Stress‐Mediated Activation of p38 Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinase in Rat Schwann Cells
Author(s) -
FUKUNAGA MICHIRU,
MIYATA SATOSHI,
HIGO SATOMI,
HAMADA YASUHIRO,
UEYAMA SHIGEMITSU,
KASUGA MASATO
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1333.019
Subject(s) - methylglyoxal , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , oxidative stress , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , protein kinase a , mapk/erk pathway , chemistry , kinase , glycation , mitogen activated protein kinase , glutathione , phosphorylation , signal transduction , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , receptor
A bstract : Although recent studies have suggested the potential involvement of apoptotic cell death in the development of diabetic neuropathy, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. On the other hand, it is known that the formation of methylglyoxal (MG), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, is accelerated under diabetic conditions through several glucose‐related metabolisms including the glycation reaction. We found that MG was capable of inducing apoptosis in peripheral nerve‐derived Schwann cells (SCs) in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, accompanied by a reduction of intracellular glutathione content. Furthermore, MG induced phosphorylation of MKK3/MKK6, an upstream molecule in the p38 MAPK pathway. N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, an antioxidant, successfully suppressed the activity of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway along with the inhibition of apoptosis, indicating the involvement of oxidative stress in the MG‐induced apoptosis via the p38 MAPK pathway. These results suggest a possible contribution of glucose‐derived MG to the development of diabetic neuropathy by injuring the cellular constituent of the peripheral nerve system, such as SCs, in the hyperglycemic milieu.