Methods to assess advanced glycation end-products.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Chemistry
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) arise from protein glycoxidation and are relevant in various pathologies.
• Quantifying AGEs in biological samples is challenging due to a lack of a gold standard method.
• This review explores recent advancements in AGEs research and their clinical applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent publications on advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).
• To assess the potential of AGEs as diagnostic tools in clinical practice.
• To highlight challenges hindering the clinical implementation of AGEs biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on AGEs.
• Analysis of various analytical methods for AGEs quantification, including mass spectrometry.
• Evaluation of skin autofluorescence as a practical, albeit less specific, measurement technique.

Main Results:

• New AGEs and analytical methods, particularly mass spectrometry-based ones, are continually being developed.
• Skin autofluorescence is increasingly used due to device practicality, despite specificity concerns.
• Carboxymethyllysine is the most frequently measured AGE in biological fluids, but inter-study comparisons are difficult due to non-standardized methods and expression modes.

Conclusions:

• Despite their biomarker potential and available assay methods, AGEs are primarily used in clinical research.
• Non-standardized assay methods and lack of standardization prevent widespread clinical adoption of AGEs.
• Addressing standardization challenges is crucial for implementing AGEs in daily clinical practice.