engleski

Immunohistochemical Detection of Advanced Glycation Endproducts on Peripheral Nerves in NIDDM Patients with Proximal Diabetic Neuropathy

AGE formation in peripheral nerves of diabetic animal model is well documented. However, there are less data on humans due to the unavailability of tissues for analysis. The aim of this study was to examine localisation of AGE-immunoreactivity in situ in sural or/and femoral nerve obtained by biopsy from NIDDM patients with proximal diabetic neuropathy (PDN). Twelve NIDDM patients with classic, abrupt-onset, sensorimotor form of PDN were included in the study (age 65.0 6.6 yrs, male/female 7/5, diabetes duration 12.5 5.6 yrs, PDN duration 4.2 1.7 mo, HbA1c 7.7%). The specimens were collected by biopsy of a small sensory branch of the femoral (n=6) and sural nerve (n=8). Five- to 8  m thin tissue sections were cut on a cryostat and used for detection of AGE deposits, by an indirect immunofluorescence technique with fluoresceine and rhodamine as markers. The primary antibody was polyclonal anti-AGE raised in rabbit. Immunohistochemical examination under fluorescence microscope demonstrated that AGE deposit was located in the perineurium, focally in the endoneurium, and in the mijelin sheath area. In femoral nerve sections, AGEs were mainly found in the mijelin sheath (83%), while in sural nerve all the patterns were AGE positive (87%). Negative results were obtained for 1 femoral (17%) and 1 sural section (13%). Summary. The AGE modified proteins were found in almost 85% of the tested femoral and sural nerves of diabetic patients with abrupt-onset form of PDN. The glycation process leading to AGE accumulation on neural cytoskeletal components could be one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of peripheral nervous system dysfunction.

Advanced glycation; AGE-immunoreactivity in situ; Diabetic neuropathy

The Croatian Group for the Study of Proximal Diabetic Neuropathy ; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-8227(00)81238-3 ; DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8227(00)81238-3