Intradermal Advanced Glycation End-products Relate to Reduced Sciatic Nerve Structural Integrity in Type 2 Diabetes

• DOI: 10.1007/s00062-024-01493-1
• Publication Date: 2025-01-29T21:44:27Z
• Authors: Christoph M. Moos...; Dimitrios Tsiling...; Lukas Schimpfle; Thomas Fleming; Stephan Herzig; Julia Szendroedi; Sabine Heiland; Martin Bendszus; Stefan Kopf; Felix Kurz; Johann Jende; Zoltan Kender
• Keywords: Microneurography; Prediabetes

Abstract Background Cardiovascular risk management is beneficial, but stringent glycemic control does not prevent the progression of distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). Persistent hyperglycemia-induced alterations and cardiovascular factors may contribute to diabetes-associated nerve damage. This study aimed evaluate correlation between skin auto-fluorescence (sAF), an indicator dermal advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulations, risk, changes in peripheral integrity. Methods Sixty-two individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) (20 women 42 men), including 29 diagnosed DSPN (7 22 10 healthy controls (HC) underwent diffusion tensor MR imaging sciatic assess fractional anisotropy (FA), structural sAF measurements were combined clinical, serological, electrophysiological evaluations. Arterial stiffness was assessed via pulse wave velocity (PWV). Results (HC 2.1 ± 0.25 AU, nDSPN 2.3 0.47, 2.6 0.43; p = 0.005) higher compared HC ( 0.010) without 0.035). Within group T2D FA correlated negatively (r −0.49, < 0.001), PWV −0.40, 0.009) high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTNT), a marker microvascular damage −0.39, 0.001). In DSPN, positively hsTNT 0.58, 0.52, 0.007), nerve’s −0.47, 0.010). Conclusions first show close correlations reduced integrity both intradermal AGE deposition arterial T2D. These findings highlight mechanistic link glycation-related vascular injury neuronal emphasizing importance preventing DSPN.