title: Heat shock protein 27 is associated with better nerve function and fewer signs of neuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High levels of serum heat shock protein 27 (sHSP27) have been associated with distal symmetric polyneuropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes. Our objective was to investigate the association between sHSP27, neuropathic signs and nerve function in individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited consecutively from the population-based Västerbotten Intervention Program (NGT, n = 39, IGT, n = 29, and type 2 diabetes, n = 51) and were matched for age and sex. sHSP27 levels were measured and nerve conduction studies were performed (peroneal and sural nerves). z Scores for each nerve conduction measure were calculated and compiled into a composite z score for the leg. Neuropathy disability score (NDS) was used to assess neuropathic signs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with diabetes had significantly lower sHSP27 levels (geometric mean sHSP27 206 pg/ml, 95% CI 142, 299) than those with IGT (geometric mean sHSP27 455 pg/ml, 95% CI 319, 650, p < 0.05) and controls (geometric mean sHSP27 361 pg/ml, 95% CI 282, 461, p < 0.05). Participants with few signs of neuropathy (first tertile, NDS ≤2) had significantly higher sHSP27 levels (geometric mean sHSP27 401 pg/ml, 95% CI 310, 520) than participants with many signs (third tertile, NDS ≥7) (geometric mean sHSP27 192 pg/ml, 95% CI 128, 288, p = 0.007). The highest sHSP27 tertile was associated with better nerve function, adjusted for age, sex, statin medication and HbA(1c) (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.25, 5.05, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High sHSP27 levels were associated with better nerve function and fewer neuropathic signs in NGT, IGT and type 2 diabetes.
authors: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden. kaveh.pourhamidi@fammed.umu.se
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Pourhamidi
authors: L B
authors: LB
authors: Dahlin
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Boman
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Rolandsson
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; C057725:HSPB1 protein, human; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones