title: Extracellular matrix remodelling in human diabetic neuropathy.
abstract: The extracellular matrix of peripheral nerve plays a vital role in terms of normal nerve fibre function and also in the regenerative response following nerve injury. Nerve fibre loss is a major feature of diabetic neuropathy; however, the regenerative response is limited and this may be associated with changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix. Glycoproteins and collagens are major components of the extracellular matrix and are known to be important in terms of axonal growth. This work has therefore examined whether changes in the expression of two major glycoproteins, laminin and tenascin, and three collagen types (IV, V and VI) occur in the endoneurial and perineurial connective tissue compartments of human diabetic nerve. Despite being known to have a positive effect in terms of axonal growth, laminin levels were not elevated in the diabetic nerves. However, the pattern of tenascin expression did differ between the two groups being found in association with axon myelin units in the diabetic samples only. The pattern of collagen IV expression was the same in both tissue groups and was not found to be up-regulated. However, levels of collagen V and VI were both significantly increased in the endoneurium and for collagen VI also in the perineurium.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Hull, UK. r.e.hill@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000032:analysis; D024062:Collagen Type V / Q000032:analysis; D024142:Collagen Type VI / Q000032:analysis; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D024062:Collagen Type V; D024142:Collagen Type VI; D007797:Laminin; D019063:Tenascin