Oxidative stress and advanced glycation in diabetic nephropathy

Nephropathy remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the diabetic population and is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure in the Western World. As a result of the diabetic milieu, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is thought to play a key role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Recent experimental studies have suggested that the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), which is central to the advanced glycation pathway, may mediate renal structural and functional damage via oxidative stress. This review focuses on how RAGE and subsequent ROS generation play a deleterious role in the diabetic kidney, promoting cross-talk among signaling pathways, ultimately leading to renal dysfunction.