Histidine-Containing Dipeptide and Diabetic Complications

Abstract

Diabetes is a series of metabolic conditions which threaten public health, caused by a defect in insulin secretion by the pancreatic β-cells or insulin-sensitive tissues that fail to respond to insulin leads to hyperglycemia, which causes a series of metabolic signaling pathways leading to inflammation, cytokine production, cell death, and diabetic complications. Recent research has pointed to Histidine-containing dipeptides (HDPs) to be one of the routes to enhancing diabetic complications. HDPs are synthesized in muscle and are abundantly found in mammals and other vertebrates. L-carnosine (CAR), Anserine, and homocarnosine are dipeptides produced by vertebrate muscles. Carnosine and anserine have both antiglycation and antioxidant activity that help to enhance metabolic dysregulation caused by diabetes. In addition, homocarnosine has anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the ability to reduce DNA damage and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). This review will focus on the protective effects of HDPs against diabetic complications, especially carnosine.