AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We addressed the question of whether the autophagy pathway occurs in human peripheral nerves and whether this pathway is associated with peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: By using electron microscopy, we evaluated the presence of autophagy-related structures and neuropathy in the posterior interosseous nerve of patients who had undergone carpal tunnel release and had type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and in patients with no diabetes (controls). RESULTS: Autophagy-related ultrastructures were observed in the samples taken from all patients of the three groups. The number of autophagy-associated structures was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the nerves of patients with type 1 than type 2 diabetes. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of fascicle area, diameter of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibres, the density of myelinated and unmyelinated fibres and the g-ratio of myelinated fibres were performed. We found degeneration and regeneration of a few myelinated axons in controls, and a well-developed neuropathy with the loss of large myelinated axons and the presence of many small ones in patients with diabetes. The pathology in type 1 diabetes was more extensive than in type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/ INTERPRETATION: The results of this study show that the human peripheral nerves have access to the autophagy machinery, and this pathway may be regulated differently in type 1 and type 2 diabetes; insulin, presence of extensive neuropathy, and/or other factors such as duration of diabetes and HbA1c level may underlie this differential regulation.
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We addressed the question of whether the autophagy pathway occurs in human peripheral nerves and whether this pathway is associated with peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: By using electron microscopy, we evaluated the presence of autophagy-related structures and neuropathy in the posterior interosseous nerve of patients who had undergone carpal tunnel release and had type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and in patients with no diabetes (controls). RESULTS: Autophagy-related ultrastructures were observed in the samples taken from all patients of the three groups. The number of autophagy-associated structures was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the nerves of patients with type 1 than type 2 diabetes. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of fascicle area, diameter of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibres, the density of myelinated and unmyelinated fibres and the g-ratio of myelinated fibres were performed. We found degeneration and regeneration of a few myelinated axons in controls, and a well-developed neuropathy with the loss of large myelinated axons and the presence of many small ones in patients with diabetes. The pathology in type 1 diabetes was more extensive than in type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/ INTERPRETATION: The results of this study show that the human peripheral nerves have access to the autophagy machinery, and this pathway may be regulated differently in type 1 and type 2 diabetes; insulin, presence of extensive neuropathy, and/or other factors such as duration of diabetes and HbA1c level may underlie this differential regulation.
Authors: J D England; G S Gronseth; G Franklin; R G Miller; A K Asbury; G T Carter; J A Cohen; M A Fisher; J F Howard; L J Kinsella; N Latov; R A Lewis; P A Low; A J Sumner Journal: Neurology Date: 2005-01-25 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: P J Dyck; K M Kratz; J L Karnes; W J Litchy; R Klein; J M Pach; D M Wilson; P C O'Brien; L J Melton; F J Service Journal: Neurology Date: 1993-04 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Simin Mohseni; Medeea Badii; Axel Kylhammar; Niels O B Thomsen; Karl-Fredrik Eriksson; Rayaz A Malik; Ingmar Rosén; Lars B Dahlin Journal: Brain Behav Date: 2017-07-12 Impact factor: 2.708
Authors: Lars B Dahlin; Kristian R Rix; Vedrana A Dahl; Anders B Dahl; Janus N Jensen; Peter Cloetens; Alexandra Pacureanu; Simin Mohseni; Niels O B Thomsen; Martin Bech Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-05-05 Impact factor: 4.379