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Neurological disorders

A fusion of pathology in diabetic neuropathy

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 6, page 752 (2005)Cite this article

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The fusion of proinsulin-expressing bone marrow cells with neurons could be a key event in the development of diabetic neuropathy, according to a recent report by Lawrence Chan and colleagues.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the leading cause of non-traumatic limb amputations. The symptoms can be widespread, from numbness, pain and tingling of the extremities to problems with the digestive tract, bladder infections and impotence. But the chain of events that leads to nerve damage in diabetes is not well described, and current treatments are designed to relieve discomfort and prevent further tissue damage.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Terashima, T. et al. The fusion of bone-marrow-derived proinsulin-expressing cells with nerve cells underlies diabetic neuropathy. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 22 August 2005 (10.1073/pnas.0505717102)

FURTHER READING

  1. Kojima, H. Extrapancreatic insulin-producing cells in multiple organs in diabetes. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 101, 2458–2463 (2004)

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  2. Yasuda, H. et al. Diabetic neuropathy and nerve regeneration. Prog. Neurobiol. 69, 229–285 (2003)

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Authors
  1. Rebecca Craven
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Craven, R. A fusion of pathology in diabetic neuropathy. Nat Rev Neurosci 6, 752 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1781

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1781

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