World Journal of Medical Sciences 10 (4): 368-374, 2014 ISSN 1817-3055 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjms.2014.10.4.83137 Corresponding Author: Leqaa A. Moemen, Medical Biochemistry Department, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt. 368 The Relation Between Advanced Glycation End Products and Cataractogensis in Diabetics Leqaa A. Moemen, Atef M. Mahmoud, Asmaa M. Mostafa, Fayek Ghaleb, 1 1 2 3 Margret A. Aziz, Mona A. Abdelhamid, Mohamed Y. Farrag and Iman A. Fahmy 1 4 4 4 Medical Biochemistry Department, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt 1 Chemist Researcher, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt 2 Clinical Pathology Unit, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt 3 Ophthalmology Department, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt 4 Abstract: Background advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a pivotal role in cataractogenesis. Production of AGEs takes place throughout the normal aging process but its accumulation is found to be accelerated in diabetes. Advanced glycation end products formation and cataract progression are extremely slow processes and are triggered by the presence of free radicals. Oxidative stress along with AGEs may integrate resulting in acceleration of cataract formation. Methods in the present study 20 patients with diabetic cataract, 20 patients with senile cataract, as well as 20 healthy "non- diabetic subjects" (Age and sex matched healthy controls) were selected from outpatient clinic in the Research Institute of Ophthalmology RIO. Malondialdehyde (MDA) (Oxidative marker), Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) Antioxidant markers and AGEs were estimated in all studied groups. Results there were significant decreases in TAC, GSH, SOD activities in both the senile and diabetic cataract groups compared to the control group. There was statistical significant increase in plasma MDA and AGEs levels in both the senile and diabetic cataract groups compared to the controls. Conclusion this study demonstrated increased accumulation of AGEs and increased lipid peroxidation products along with impaired antioxidant status in patients with both diabetic and senile cataract. Key words: Advanced Glycation End Products (Ages) Senile Cataract Diabetic Cataract Aging Oxidative Stress Antioxidants INTRODUCTION Glycation is a non-enzymatic process in which Cataract is a visual impairment resulting from concentration [5]. Advanced glycation end products opacification or optical dysfunction of the lens crystallin. (AGEs) play a pivotal role in loss of lens transparency. It occurs in diabetic patients (osmotic cataract) as well as AGEs production occurs throughout the normal aging in non- diabetic patients (senile cataract) where age is the process but its accumulation is found to be more rapid in main predisposing factor [1]. diabetics [6]. Advanced glycation end products formation Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases is accelerated by oxidative stress as reactive oxygen characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in species enhance cross-linking between carbohydrate insulin secretion, insulin action, or both [2]. It is estimated moiety and amino group of protein [7]. that by the year 2030, Egypt will have at least 8.6 million Lipid peroxidation of cellular structures, a adults with diabetes [3]. Long-term hyperglycemia is consequence of increased oxygen free radicals, is thought involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular to play an important role in microvascular complications and macro-vascular complications and cataractogenesis of diabetes mellitus [8]. The toxic effects of the reactive [4]. oxygen species are neutralized in the lens by antioxidants glucose covalently binds to a protein in a high glucose