Tobacco smoke is a source of toxic reactive glycation products

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.94.25.13915
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:35:50Z
• Authors: Carla Cerami; Hank Founds; Iain Nicholl; Tomoko Mitsuhashi; Donna Giordano; Sonya Vanpatten; Annette Lee; Yousef Al-Abed; Helen Vlassara; Richard Bucala; Anthony Cerami
• Keywords: Tobacco smoke; Reactive intermediate

Smokers have a significantly higher risk for developing coronary and cerebrovascular disease than nonsmokers. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are reactive, cross-linking moieties that form from the reaction of reducing sugars amino groups proteins, lipids, nucleic acids. AGEs circulate in high concentrations plasma patients with diabetes or renal insufficiency been linked to accelerated vasculopathy seen these diseases. Because curing tobacco takes place under conditions could lead formation products, we examined whether smoke generate reactive species would increase AGE vivo . Our findings show present aqueous extracts can rapidly react proteins AGEs. This be inhibited by aminoguanidine, known inhibitor formation. We named “glycotoxins.” Like other glycotoxins smoke, protein, exhibit specific fluorescence when cross-linked mutagenic. Glycotoxins transferred serum human smokers. AGE-apolipoprotein B levels cigarette smokers were those These results suggest increased glycotoxin exposure may contribute incidence atherosclerosis prevalence cancer