Effects of AGEs on oxidation stress and antioxidation abilities in cultured astrocytes

To investigate whether two kinds of in vitro prepared advanced glycation end products (AGEs), Glu-BSA and Gal-BSA, could change oxidation stress and anti-oxidation abilities in astrocytes, and thus might contribute to brain injury.

Changes of GSH, MDA, SOD, MAO-B, nitric oxide were measured after AGEs treatment.

Both 0.1 g/L Glu-BSA and Gal-BSA could slightly decrease GSH level, while 1 g/L of them significantly decreased GSH level by 35% and 43% respectively. The MDA levels of both 1 g/L AGEs treated groups (306 +/- 13 and 346 +/- 22) were higher than that of the normal group (189 +/- 18), which could be inhibited by free radical scavenger NAC. The SOD activities of both 1 g/L AGEs treated groups (67.0 +/- 5.2 and 74.0 +/- 11.0) were lower than that of the normal group (85.2 +/- 8.0). Both 0.1 g/L AGEs could slightly increase the activity of MAO-B, while 1 g/L of them could increase MAO-B activity by 1.5 and 1.7 folds respectively. Both AGEs stimulation could produce NO level by 1.7 and 2 folds respectively.

Enhanced levels of astrocytic oxidation stress and decrease of antioxidation abilities may contribute to, at least partially, the detrimental effects of AGEs in neuronal disorders and aging brain.