University of Ulm Department of Internal Medicine II, Director Prof. Dr. Med. V. Hombach Activation of receptors for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGEs) in human monocytes Dissertation for obtaining of title Dr.Biol. Hum. to the Medical Faculty of University of Ulm Presented by Nina Mihaylova Ivanova Polski Trumbesh, Bulgaria 2005 Dean of The Medical Faculty: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Marre 1. Referee: Prof. Dr. Med. Nikolaus Marx 2. Referee: Dr. W. Weidemann thDate of the promotion: 9 of December 2005 Contents 1. Contents 2 2. List of abbreviations 4 3. Introduction 5 3.1. Atherosclerosis 5 3.2. Atherosclerosis and diabetes 6 3.3. Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) 8 3.4. RAGE ligands 12 3.5. RAGE function 15 3.6. Role of RAGE in atherosclerosis development in conditions of diabetes 17 3.7. Monocytes/macrophages 22 4. Materials 25 4.1. Cells and cell cultures 25 4.2. Cell culture 25 4.3. Oligonucleotides 25 4.4. Vectors and DNA-leaders 26 4.5. Enzymes and buffers for cloning 26 4.6. Chemicals 26 4.7. Cytokines, proteins and inhibitors 27 4.8. Additional materials 27 4.9. Kits 27 4.10. Machines 28 4.11.