Apoptosis in diabetic neuropathy.

It has been proposed that apoptotic death of some sensory neurons and Schwann cells occurs in, and may be causal for, diabetic neuropathy (DN). Some tantalizing but incomplete evidence for this has emerged from studies of rat models of diabetes and in vitro studies of sensory and sympathetic neurons and Schwann cells exposed to very high concentrations of glucose. This article reviews the evidence and suggests that most studies to date are far from being conclusive. Hence there is room for proper studies of apoptosis in DN, as such studies may reveal hitherto unexplored drug targets that may improve management of the disease.