The Impact of Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Primary Stem Cells: A Systematic Review

Figure 3

Interference of AGEs in the MAPK pathways. AGEs lead to an increase in apoptosis or a decrease in proliferation via the MAPK pathways. RAGE activation by AGEs causes activation of MAPK, which leads to phosphorylation of JNK and p38. These phosphorylated proteins increase the transcription of different proapoptotic transcription factors (TF), leading to an increase in apoptosis. Next to that, AGEs inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK, which normally promotes the transcription of growth factors leading to proliferation. Finally, AGEs also induce ROS formation by reducing the availability of antioxidant enzymes, which directly leads to DNA and protein damage. Indirectly, ROS interferes in the JNK/p38 MAPK pathway.