Cell-cell interactions in diabetic neuropathy

Question: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most relevant chronic diabetic complications but its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Recent data indicate that the Mac-1, key player in leukocyte adhesion, and its receptor ICAM-1, expressed on vascular endothelium, recruit leukocytes, believed to participate in late diabetic complications. Another Mac-1 counter receptor able to promote leukocyte recruitment is RAGE. Thus, we hypothesized that ICAM and RAGE are involved in diabetic neuropathy and studied their role by using the knock-out mice. Methods: Wild-type mice (C57Bl/6; B6) and RAGE-/-, ICAM-1-/-, and RAGE…