Figure 2

Mechanisms of glucose-induced oxidative stress in ECs. Hyperglycemia leads to cell death by the overproduction of ROS and impairment in the ROS neutralizing enzymes. Multiple pathways may lead to ROS production. A consequence of activating these oxidant pathways is the depletion of co-factors required by the anti-oxidant enzyme systems. The net effect is an imbalance in ROS production and ROS clearance [AGE=advanced glycation end product; ATP=adenosine-5'-triphosphate; iNOS=inducible nitric oxide synthase; LOX-1=receptor for oxidized-low density lipoprotein; NAD=nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NADPH=reduced NAD phosphate; ox-LDL=oxidized-low density lipoprotein; PARP=poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase; RAGE=receptor for AGE].