Comprehensive overview of human serum albumin glycation in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The presence of excess glucose in blood is regarded as a sweet hurt for patients with diabetes. Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant protein in human plasma, which undergoes severe non-enzymatic glycation with glucose in patients with diabetes; this modifies the structure and function of HSA. Furthermore, the advanced glycation end products produced by glycated HSA can cause pathological damage to the human body through various signaling pathways, eventually leading to complications of diabetes. Many potential glycation sites on HSA have different degrees of sensitivity to glucose concentration. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the in vivo glycation sites of HSA; it also discusses the effects of glycation on the structure and function of HSA. Moreover, it addresses the relationship between HSA glycation and diabetes complications. Finally, it focuses on the value of non-enzymatic glycation of HSA in diabetes-related clinical applications.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Human serum albumin; Non-enzymatic glycation; Advanced glycation end products; Glycation sites; Diabetic complications

Core Tip: In the case of hyperglycemia state, the glycation level of albumin in plasma is significantly increased, which alters the structure and function of albumin. Herein we review the different glycation sites and functional changes of glycated albumin, and discuss the relationship between albumin glycation and diabetes complications. The potential application value of glycated albumin in clinical is also discussed.