Fig. 4From: Relationship between Advanced Glycation End Products and Steroidogenesis in PCOSA diagram of pathways by which AGEs affect genes involved in steroid synthesis and follicular development. AGEs induce LHR mRNA expression and alter LH hormone action by inappropriate activation of ERK1/2 pathway. The interaction of AGEs with its cell membrane receptor RAGE induces StAR (Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory protein), P450scc (cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme), CYP17A1 (17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17, 20 lyase), and 3β-HSD (3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) mRNA expression levels. AGE-RAGE interaction also induces AMHR-II mRNA levels and increases SMAD 1/5/8 phosphorylation (AMH pathway). AGEs: advanced glycation end-products; RAGE: receptor for advanced glycation end-products; AMH: anti-Mullerian hormone Back to article page