Glycation and the Development of Arteriosclerosis

Abstract

Furosine (ε-N-(2-furoylmethyl)-L-lysine), which is an acid-hydrolysis product derived from the Amadori compoud fructose-lysine (ε-N-(1-deoxy-D-fructose-1-yl)-L-lysine) was used in determining the nonenzymatic glycation of tissue proteins. The furosine level in the aorta obtained at autopsy was significantly higher in the aged (over 65 years) than in the neonate. A significant positive correlation was found between the visually estimated severity of sclerosis of the aorta and the furosine level in the aorta in the aged.
These results suggest that an increase in nonenzymatic glycation in the human aorta may be an etiological factor of arteriosclerosis.