Biomedical Frontiers: Fall 1997, Vol.4, No.2
Diabetes Research
Diabetes, Arthritis, and RAGE

One disabling complication associated with renal failure is the development of severe arthritis associated with amyloidosis. Studies of patients with this disorder, which is known as dialysis-related amyloidosis, have found deposits of fibrils composed of an AGE-modified form of ß₂ microglobulin in the joints. The fibrils interact with monocytes in the joint space by binding to RAGE, according to a study by CPMC researchers published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation last year. The research team found that AGEs attract and activate monocytes, causing a sustained inflammatory response that involves fibroblasts and eventually destroys the joint. Further research is now aimed at determining if blocking RAGE suppresses this process.