PUBLICATION

Neuropeptide Y: a potential theranostic biomarker for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type-2 diabetes

Authors: Cho, N.R., Yu, Y., Oh, C.K., Ko, D.S., Myung, K., Lee, Y., Na, H.S., Kim, Y.H.
ID: ZDB-PUB-211104-5
Date: 2021
Source: Therapeutic advances in chronic disease 12: 20406223211041936 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords: biomarker, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, neuropeptide Y, type-2 diabetes mellitus, zebrafish
MeSH Terms: none
PubMed: 34729143 Full text @ Ther Adv Chronic Dis

Abstract

Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), the most common microvascular complication of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), results in nontraumatic lower-limb amputations. When DPN is not detected early, disease progression is irreversible. Thus, biomarkers for diagnosing DPN are needed.

Methods We analyzed three data sets of T2DM DPN: two for mouse models (GSE70852 and GSE34889) and one for a human model (GSE24290). We found common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two mouse data sets and validated them in the human data set. To identify the phenotypic function of the DEGs, we overexpressed them in zebrafish embryos. Clinical information and serum samples of T2DM patients with and without DPN were obtained from the Korea Biobank Network. To assess the plausibility of DEGs as biomarkers of DPN, we performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results Among the DEGs, only NPY and SLPI were validated in the human data set. As npy is conserved in zebrafish, its mRNA was injected into zebrafish embryos, and it was observed that the branches of the central nervous system became thicker and the number of dendritic branches increased. Baseline characteristics between T2DM patients with and without DPN did not differ, except for the sex ratio. The mean serum NPY level was higher in T2DM patients with DPN than in those without DPN (p = 0.0328), whereas serum SLPI levels did not differ (p = 0.9651).

Conclusion In the pathogenesis of DPN, NPY may play a protective role in the peripheral nervous system and may be useful as a biomarker for detecting T2DM DPN.

Genes / Markers

Figures