Advanced lipoxidation end-products.

Chemical and nonenzymatic molecular modifications induced by reactive carbonyl species (RCS) generated by peroxidation of membrane phospholipids acyl chains play a dual role as signaling molecules and as mediators of the aging process. Cytotoxic effects of RCS are due to their capacity to react with cellular constituents, forming advanced lipoxidation end-products (ALEs). Reactive carbonyl compounds are stable and can diffuse within or even escape from the cell and attack targets far from the site of formation. The consequent loss of function and structural integrity of modified biomolecules can have a wide range of downstream functional consequences and may be the cause of subsequent cellular dysfunctions and tissue damage.