Helen Vlassara, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Helen Vlassara, MD
Helen Vlassara, MD

A focus of the Vlassara laboratory is to broaden the working model on pathogenic processes and obtain tools for prevention/intervention treatments of the complications of aging and diabetes. These complex entities reflect multiple interactions of environmental and genetic parameters. Her studies have defined: a) the chemical and cellular-toxicity of advanced glycation; b) a new receptor system that recognizes AGE-modified molecules (AGE-receptor); c) genetic factor(s) influencing the AGE-receptor function. Cellular activation via this receptor contributes to vascular, renal, and neuronal dysfunction under conditions of AGE-overaccumulation, as in aging, diabetes, or renal impairment. These factors, combined with environmental AGEs, eg., diet and tobacco smoke, can contribute to tissue injury, leading to chronic degenerative disorder. Dr. Vlassara's studies have applied a broad range of molecular, cell-culture, and animal-based approaches to confirm a cause-and-effect relationship between AGEs and pathology. Concurrently, they also have produced novel quantitative and sensitive diagnostic methods and highly effective therapies that are actively tested.

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References:

  1. Cai W, Gao GD, Zhu L, Peppa M, Vlassara H. Oxidative stress-inducing carbonyl compounds from commn foods: novel mediators of cellular dysfunction. Mol Med 8: 337-346, 2002.
  2. Vlassara H, Cai W, Crandall J, Goldberg T, Oberstein R, Dardaine V, Peppa M, Rayfield EJ. Inflammatory mediators are induced by dietary glycotoxins, a major risk factor for diabetic angiopathy Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 99: 15596-15601, 2002.
  3. Cai W, He JC, Zhu L, Chen X, Zheng F, Striker GE, Vlassara H. Oral glycotoxins determine the effects of calorie restriction on oxidant stress, age-related diseases, and lifespan. Am J Pathol 173: 327-336, 2008.
  4. Torreggiani M, Liu H, Wu J, Zheng F, Cai W, Striker GE, Vlassara H. Advanced glycation end product receptor-1 transgenic mice are resistant to inflammation, oxidant stress, and post-injury intima hyperplasia Am J Pathol 175: 1722-1732, 2009.
  5. Cai W, Ramdas M, Zhu L, Striker GE, Vlassara H. Oral advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) promote insulin resistance and diabetes by depleting the antioxidant defenses AGE receptor-1 and sirtuin 1. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109: 15888-15893, 2012.