Schematic presentation of role of aldose reductase (AKR1B1) in the mediation of inflammatory pathologies (for details see the text). AKR1B1, aldose reductase; GF, growth factors; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; LPS, Lipopolysachharide; ROS, reactive oxygen species; LDA, lipid peroxidation- derived aldehydes; HNE, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal; GS-HNE, glutathione-4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal; GS-DHN, glutathionyl-1,4-dihydroxynonene; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinases; PKC, protein kinase C; PLC, phospholipase C; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; AP-1, activator protein 1; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; Cox-2, cycloxygenase-2; GSH, reduced glutathione;