Alterations in circulating angiogenic and anti‐angiogenic factors in type 2 diabetic patients with neuropathy

Abstract

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common diabetic chronic complications. There is an increased attention directed towards the role of angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-angiogenic factors including soluble endoglin (sEng) as contributors to diabetic microvascular complications including neuropathy. The purposes of this study were to determine the role of these angiogenesis regulators in the prognosis of DPN. The study group included 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 20 clinically healthy individuals. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I included 20 T2DM patients without peripheral neuropathy, and Group II consisted of 40 T2DM patients with DPN. In all groups, plasma VEGF, sEng and endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide and ET-1 mRNA were estimated. Plasma levels of VEGF, sEng, ET-1 and nitric oxide were significantly elevated in diabetic patients (Groups I and II) compared with healthy control subjects, with a higher increase in their levels in patients with DPN compared with diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy. Measurement of plasma levels of angiogenesis-related biomarkers in high-risk diabetic patients might identify who later develop DPN, thus providing opportunities for early detection and targets for novel treatments.

Statins in Low Doses Reduce VEGF and bFGF Serum Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Several studies reported that diabetic individuals display relatively increased serum levels of proangiogenic factors [30,31,32]. In our study exclusively VEGF and bFGF serum levels in the diabetic statin-free group were significantly higher compared to the nondiabetic statin-free control group, while in the statin-treated group of patients with type 2 diabetes examined proangiogenic factors did not differ to the control group.…”

Alpha-lipoic acid modifies circulating angiogenic factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Similar results were obtained by Motawi [ 7 0 _ T D $ D I F F ] et al [39]. It seems likely that the increased VEGF serum level may be a compensatory mechanism occurring in patients with diabetic neuropathy allowing healing of nerves [ 7 1 _ T D $ D I F F ] [40].…”

Expression of Nrf2 Promotes Schwann Cell-Mediated Sciatic Nerve Recovery in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

“…In accordance with recent studies [8, 18-20], through measuring plasma levels of VEGF, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TLR4 we found that inflammatory factors and VEGF expression were higher in patients with DPN than in DN patients. These findings are in agreement with the theory that DPN may be associated with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction [21].…”