title: Diabetes and the plasticity of sensory neurons.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus targets sensory neurons during the development of peripheral neuropathy. While polyneuropathy is often routinely considered as another 'microvascular' complication of diabetes mellitus, this concept may no longer address the complexities and unique qualities of direct neuronal involvement. The list of altered molecules and pathways in diabetic neurons continues to grow and includes those related to structure, neuronal 'stress', and protection. A role for abnormal direct neuronal insulin signaling has emerged as an important contributing factor in neurodegeneration. Finally, important molecular players that influence neuronal and axon growth, such as PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) are considered. A better mechanistic understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetic polyneuropathy may foster targeted therapies that reverse a long history of therapeutic failures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, 2E3.26 Walter C Mackenzie, Health Sciences Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada. Electronic address: zochodne@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Zochodne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic polyneuropathy; Insulin signaling; PTEN; Regeneration; Sensory neurons