Advanced Glycation End Product (AGE)–Mediated Induction of Tissue Factor in Cultured Endothelial Cells Is Dependent on RAGE

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Abstract
Background Binding of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to the cellular surface receptor (RAGE) induces translocation of the transcription factor NF-κB into the nucleus and NF-κB–mediated gene expression. This study examines the role of RAGE in the AGE albumin–mediated induction of endothelial tissue factor, known to be partly controlled by NF-κB. Methods and Results Endothelial cells (ECs) were incubated in the presence of an 18-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide antisense to the 5′-coding sequence of the RAGE gene (antisense RAGE; 0.1 μmol/L). Sense oligonucleotides (sense RAGE, 0.1 μmol/L) of the same region served as control. The cellular uptake of oligonucleotides was controlled by immunofluorescence microscopy. RAGE transcription was suppressed by antisense RAGE, as demonstrated by RT-PCR reactions. AGE albumin–mediated activation of cultured ECs was studied after 48 hours of preincubation of ECs with antisense or sense RAGE. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the AGE albumin–induced translocation of NF-κB from the cytoplasm into the nucleus was suppressed in the presence of antisense RAGE but not by sense RAGE. In parallel, AGE albumin–mediated tissue factor transcription, activity, and antigen were significantly reduced in ECs exposed to antisense RAGE, whereas sense RAGE (and nonspecific oligonucleotides) did not influence tissue factor expression. Conclusions Activation of ECs and induction of tissue factor by AGE albumin in ECs is dependent on RAGE.