Background Expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays an important role in diabetic peripheral artery disease. We proposed to show that treatment with an antibody blocking RAGE would improve hind limb perfusion and muscle viability in diabetic pig with femoral artery (FA) ligation. Methods and Results Purpose-bred diabetic Yucatan minipigs with average fasting blood sugar of 357 mg/dL on insulin to maintain a glucose range of 300 to 500 mg/dL were treated with either a humanized monoclonal anti-RAGE antibody (CR-3) or nonimmune IgG. All pigs underwent intravascular occlusion of the anterior FA. Animals underwent (201Tl) single-photon emission computed tomography/x-ray computed tomography imaging on days 1 and 28 after FA occlusion, angiogenesis imaging with [99mTc]dodecane tetra-acetic acid-polyethylene glycol-single chain vascular endothelial growth factor (scVEGF), muscle biopsies on day 7, and contrast angiogram day 28. Results showed greater increases in perfusion to the gastrocnemius from day 1 to day 28 in CR-3 compared with IgG treated pigs (P=0.0024), greater uptake of [99mTc]dodecane tetra-acetic acid-polyethylene glycol-scVEGF (scV/Tc) in the proximal gastrocnemius at day 7, confirmed by tissue staining for capillaries and vascular endothelial growth factor A, and less muscle loss and fibrosis at day 28. Contrast angiograms showed better reconstitution of the distal FA from collaterals in the CR-3 versus IgG treated diabetic pigs (P=0.01). The gastrocnemius on nonoccluded limb at necropsy had higher 201Tl uptake (percentage injected dose per gram) and reduced RAGE staining in arterioles in CR-3 treated compared with IgG treated animals (P=0.04). Conclusions A novel RAGE-blocking antibody improved hind limb perfusion and angiogenesis in diabetic pigs with FA occlusion. Contributing factors are increased collaterals and reduced vascular RAGE expression. CR-3 shows promise for clinical treatment in diabetic peripheral artery disease.
Keywords: antibodies; diabetes mellitus; peripheral artery disease.