Based on overlapping structural requirements for both efficient aldose reductase inhibitors and PPAR ligands, [5-(benzyloxy)-1H-indol-1-yl]acetic acid (compound 1) was assessed for inhibition of aldose reductase and ability to interfere with PPARγ. Aldose reductase inhibition by 1 was characterized by IC50 in submicromolar and low micromolar range, for rat and human enzyme, respectively. Select...

The earliest histopathologic signs of diabetic retinopathy include selective loss of intramural pericytes and thickening of capillary basement membranes. Previous evidence from animal models indicated that aldose reductase inhibitors could prevent these capillary wall lesions, but only recently have aldose reductase inhibitors been tested for prevention of the subsequent retinal complications o...

The objective of this study was to determine whether the polyol pathway enzyme aldose reductase mediates diabetes abnormalities in vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth. Aldose reductase inhibitors (tolrestat or sorbinil) or antisense aldose reductase mRNA prevented hyperproliferation of cultured rat aortic SMCs induced by high glucose. Cell cycle progression in the presence of high glucose ...

Aldehyde reductase [EC 1.1.1.2] and aldose reductase [EC 1.1.1.21] are monomeric NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases having wide substrate specificities for carbonyl compounds. These enzymes are implicated in the development of diabetic complications by catalyzing the reduction of glucose to sorbitol. Enzyme inhibition as a direct pharmacokinetic approach to the prevention of diabetic complications...

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is thought to be the most common disease resulting from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations, and transmitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cell lines are the most frequently used model for understanding the pathogenesis of mitochondrial disorders. We have used oligonucleotide microarrays and a novel study design based on shared transcripts t...

Aldose reductase is an NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductase best known as the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway that is implicated in the complications of diabetes. Aldose reductase appears to be involved in a variety of disease states other than diabetes, presumably due to its ability to catalyze the reduction of a broad spectrum of aldehydes, including some cytotoxic products of lipid...

aldose reductase is a critical enzyme in the polyol pathway that plays an important role in diabetes mellitus. inhibition of the activity of this enzyme can prevent cataract in diabetic patients’lenses. in this study the inhibitory effect of two flavonoids, quercetin and naringin, in the activity of aldose reductase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and healthy rats were investigated. thirty m...

Aldose reductase inhibitors improve nerve biochemistry, function, and structure in diabetic animals and increase nerve conduction in diabetic patients. Nevertheless, it has been difficult to demonstrate a benefit from these agents in patients with clinically overt diabetic neuropathy. Direct measurement of the nerve tissue penetration and biochemical and biological potency of these compounds is...

Aldose reductase in a highly purified state is unstable. It requires the presence of thiol groups to maintain it in an active form. The enzyme apparently exists in 3 forms, only one of which is active. Tetramethylene glutaric acid (TMG) is an effective aldose reductase inhibitor. However, a relatively high level of TMG is needed to depress dulcitol synthesis in the lens incubated in a galactose...