Dual-action peptides: a new strategy in the treatment of diabetes-associated neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common and debilitating complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent studies have shown that several small, non-neural peptides possess neurotrophic activity and exert beneficial effects on nervous system function in experimental and clinical diabetes. Two of these, C-peptide and islet neogenesis-associated protein peptide, are derived from pancreatic proteins and use related signal transduction mechanisms. Derivatives of erythropoietin possess similar properties in the nervous system. As a group, these peptides are of increasing interest as leads to potential new approaches in the treatment of diabetes-associated neuropathies and other neurodegenerative conditions. This review addresses the recent advances made with these peptides in the context of diabetic neuropathy, and highlights similarities and differences in their mechanisms of action from the perspective of combination therapy.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1314, Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 1Y6.
Joseph
J
Tam
Jack
J
Diamond
Dusica
D
Maysinger
D000818:Animals; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction
D002096:C-Peptide; D016207:Cytokines; C500438:INGAP peptide; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C000612141:REG3A protein, human; D004921:Erythropoietin