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Background Cellular actions of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) are mediated by a receptor for AGE (RAGE), a novel integral membrane protein. Immunohistochemical studies show only low-level RAGE antigen expression in endothelial cells. Design It was the purpose of the study to compare expression of RAGE antigen by endothelial cells in non-diabetic uraemic patients (n=8) with non-uraemic controls (n=11). Samples of arterial tissue were obtained at the time of renal transplantation (in uraemic patients) and abdominal surgery (in controls). RAGE antigen was visualized using guinea-pig anti-RAGE IgG and PAP technique. Results Marked staining for RAGE was noted in endothelial cells, both arterial endothelium and endothelium of vasa vasorum of normoglycaemic uraemic patients, but was not demonstrable in endothelial cells of large arteries and only faintly expressed in vasa vasorum of non-uraemic individuals. Conclusion Normal endothelial cells do not constitually express RAGE antigen; in contrast it is expressed by arterial and capillary endothelial cells of uraemic patients. The observation is of note in view of the putative role of AGE of causing atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic vascular lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]