Figure 2.

Schematic representation of some biological mechanisms in the interplay of glycation, neurodegeneration, and the progression of oxidative stress. Mechanisms in brain degeneration are highlighted. Both glycation and cellular degeneration are involved in the activation of local (i.e., brain) and systemic oxidative stress. The accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and/or energetic imbalance induces severe damage to cells. AGEs, as well as Aβ-peptides, have related stress activation on membrane-RAGE, which is a promiscuous receptor interacting with both ligands. CML: carboxymethyl-lysine; MG-H1: Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)ornithine.