Polyol Metabolism and Hyperglycemic State
Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases classified by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion and insulin action. Abnormal insulin action on the target tissues results abnormalities in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, leading to structural changes in many organ systems of the body, especially those associated with the vascular system. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with serious long-term complications including microvascular and macrovascular disease.
The polyol pathway is considered to be implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular disease (such as nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy). The polyol pathway consists of two oxidoreductases: aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). The first and rate-limiting enzyme AR in the pathway, reduces glucose to sorbitol using NADPH as a cofactor; sorbitol is then metabolized to fructose by SDH that uses NAD+ as a cofactor. AR and SDH are present in human tissues and organs that are sites of diabetic complications. In hyperglycemic conditions, intracellular glucose concentration increases and polyol pathway metabolism is enhanced. The products of the pathway and the altered balance of cofactors result in increased oxidative stress and accelerated cellular damage.
Amerigo Scientific offers reliable kits and regents for detecting metabolic changes to study the impacts of polyol metabolism on progress of diabetes and advance drug discovery for the treatment of diabetic complications.
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