Rarefication of the peripheral nerve network in diabetic patients is associated with a pronounced reduction of terminal Schwann cells.
- Christina M. Reinisch, MD1,
- Hannes Traxler, MD2,
- Stefanie Piringer2,
- Stefan Tangl, MS3,,4,
- Alexander Nader, MD5 and
- Erwin Tschachler, MD (Erwin.Tschachler{at}meduniwien.ac.at)1,,6
- 1Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
- 2Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
- 3Department of Oral Surgery, Bernhard Gottlieb University Dental Clinic, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
- 4Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
- 5Institute of Pathology, Hanuschkrankenhaus, Vienna, Austria
- 6Centre de Recherches et d'Investigations Épidermiques et Sensorielles (CE.R.I.E.S.), Neuilly, France
Abstract
Objective: Peripheral neuropathy is the most frequent neurological complication in diabetic patients. The diagnosis is established by both clinical neurological examination and demonstration of reduced epidermal nerve fibers in skin biopsies(1). Whereas the decrease of free nerve endings has been extensively studied in diabetics(2,3), no data are available on possible changes of terminal Schwann cells. Besides their role as scaffold for peripheral nerves, they also play an important role in supporting survival and function of peripheral nerves(4).
Methods: We analyzed the subepidermal nerve plexus in dermal sheet preparations of deceased diabetic and non-diabetic patients by immunostaining for the neural-cell adhesion molecule and quantification of the subepidermal nerve plexus.
Results and Conclusion: The subepidermal nerve plexus, comprising nerve fibers and ensheathing Schwann cells was significantly reduced in diabetic patients. Whether the reduction in terminal Schwann cells is cause or consequence of the loss of peripheral nerve fibers remains to be investigated.
Footnotes
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- Received September 18, 2007.
- Accepted February 28, 2008.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
