VCAM1 and diabetes mellitus: In diabetes, accelerated synthesis and tissue deposition of AGEs is proposed as a contributing mechanism in the pathogenesis of clinical complications.9 Accumulation of AGEs in the human body progresses in aging and in complications of renal failure10 and diabetes.11 AGEs are bound to a cell surface receptor (RAGE) inducing expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), an endothelial cell surface cell-cell recognition protein that can prime diabetic vasculature for enhanced interaction with circulating monocytes thereby initiating vascular injury.