Oxidative, metabolic, and apoptotic responses of Schwann cells to high glucose levels.

The specific response of murine Schwann cells IMS32 to acute and chronic hyperglycemia conditions was evaluated. The pathophysiological alterations were studied to deepening the role of Schwann cells in diabetes-related neurotoxicity and to assess a model to screen new protective molecules. IMS32 were incubated with 30 and 56 mM glucose for 48 h and 7 and 14 days, and markers of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and polyol pathway were evaluated. High glucose induced O(2) -production and lipid peroxidation at all time point whereas Caspase 3 activity was induced only after 14 days. Aldose reductase activity and expression were significantly increased after 48 h and 14 days, respectively. Our results describe the response of Schwann cells to high glucose conditions and suggest the use of IMS32 for the screening of protective molecules in diabetes-induced neuropathy.