The role of methylglyoxal-modified proteins in gastric ulcer healing.

Methylglyoxal is a reactive dicarbonyl compound produced from cellular glycolytic intermediates that reacts nonenzymatically with proteins to form products such as argpyrimidine at arginine residues. Abnormal accumulation of methylglyoxal and methylglyoxal-derived advanced glycation end products (AGEs) occurs under hyperglycemic conditions and has been implicated in endothelium dysfunction, arterial stiffening, and microvascular complications in diabetes. However, the role of methylglyoxal in the healing process of diabetic gastric ulcers has not been fully investigated. Recently, methylglyoxal modification of peroxiredoxin-VI was found to be associated with delayed healing of diabetic gastric ulcers. Thus, inhibition of methylglyoxal modification might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of such ulcers. In this review, we present what is currently known regarding the role of methylglyoxal in the healing of diabetic gastric ulcers.