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Figure 1<br />

Schematic of the polyol pathway showing the NADPH-dependent reduction of open<br />

chain D-glucose to sorbitol, which is catalyzed <strong>by</strong> ALR2. This step is followed <strong>by</strong> the<br />

NAD + -dependent oxidation of sorbitol <strong>by</strong> sorbitol dehydrogenase to yield D-fructose.<br />

Page 230<br />

significant diabetic complications. Transgenic animals overexpressing ALR2 in target tissues of diabetic<br />

complications are more prone to development of experimentally induced diabetic complications [2,3].<br />

The most extensive body of evidence linking ALR2 to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications comes<br />

from numerous successes in the treatment of experimental animals with a variety of ALR2 inhibitors<br />

(ARI) [4]. Many of these studies demonstrated that ARIs substantially delay or in some cases prevent<br />

the onset of complications.<br />

Clinical trials of ARIs have yielded encouraging results in alleviating painful symptoms of diabetic<br />

complications. However, unacceptable side effects related to toxicity or inadequate pharmocokinetic<br />

profiles have rendered most of the drug candidates undesirable. Nevertheless, several ARIs are<br />

commercially available in some countries and more appear to be in the pipeline. The therapeutic<br />

rationale for treatment of human diabetics with ARIs to delay or prevent onset of diabetic complications<br />

is compelling. Animal models with experimentally induced hyperglycemia develop complications that<br />

are morphologically and functionally similar to that seen in the human diabetic patient. Many<br />

structurally<br />

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