RAGE

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE; AGER) is a multiligand cell surface protein belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. RAGE acts as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) and is involved in inflammation and the immune response.

RAGE is composed of an extracellular V domain, which binds multiple ligands, 2 C-type immunoglobulin domains, a single transmembrane helix and a cytoplasmic tail, which is required for RAGE-mediated signaling. Interestingly unlike many receptors, RAGE appears to form multimers before ligand binding. RAGE interacts with many downstream molecules, including the cytoskeletal protein Diaphanous-1 (Dia-1), the adaptor protein TIRAP and ERK1/2.

RAGE are expressed in mammals, and are structurally closely related to cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). RAGE is normally expressed at very low levels in most cells, but is expressed at high levels in alveolar type I cells in the lungs. When expressed at high levels, RAGE mediates cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix and to other cells through homophilic interactions.

RAGE binds many ligands including advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), from which its name is derived. RAGE also binds damage-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) released during tissue damage, including the prototypical damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) - high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and several S100 proteins. Over-expression of RAGE or perpetuation of RAGE signaling leads to chronic inflammation and has been implicated in atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, liver disease, diabetic nephropathy, retinal disease and cancer. In addition, RAGE is being studied for its role in Alzheimer's disease; RAGE has been shown to play a role in regulating the influx of circulating Aβ into brain, and it mediates the ability of Aβ-laden monocytes to cross the blood brain barrier. RAGE is a promising therapeutic target, in part because studies have shown that mice lacking RAGE appear healthy and resistant to the above diseases.

Literature for RAGE

Tocris offers the following scientific literature for RAGE to showcase our products. We invite you to request* your copy today!

*Please note that Tocris will only send literature to established scientific business / institute addresses.

Alzheimer's Disease Poster

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia, affecting approximately 30% of individuals aged over 85 years. This poster summarizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms of AD.

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Multiple Sclerosis Poster

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by focal demyelination and axon degeneration in the central nervous system. This poster summarizes the neurobiology and current therapies of MS.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Poster

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic destructive inflammatory autoimmune disease that results from a breakdown in immune tolerance, for reasons that are as yet unknown. This poster summarizes the pathology of RA and the inflammatory processes involved, as well as describing some of the epigenetic modifications associated with the disease and the potential for targeting these changes in the discovery of new treatments.

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