Extracorporeal shock wave therapy effectively prevented diabetic neuropathy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus (DM) can induce peripheral neuropathy, affecting the sciatic nerve (SN).
• Leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice are a model for studying DM-induced complications.
• Protecting the SN from DM-induced damage is crucial for maintaining nerve function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave (ECSW) therapy in preventing sciatic nerve neuropathy in a mouse model of diabetes.
• To evaluate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying ECSW's protective effects.

Main Methods:

• In vitro: RT4-D6P2T schwannoma cells were treated with menadione to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, then exposed to ECSW.
• In vivo: Leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice were divided into control, diabetic (DM), and DM + ECSW groups.
• Analysis included protein and mRNA expression of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis markers, as well as cellular markers and microscopic examination of sciatic nerves.

Main Results:

• In vitro, ECSW reversed menadione-induced increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage markers.
• In vivo, ECSW treatment significantly reduced mRNA expressions of inflammation and oxidative stress markers in the sciatic nerves of diabetic mice.
• ECSW therapy increased anti-oxidant gene expression, improved Schwann cell and myelin sheath integrity, and modulated inflammatory cell infiltration in the sciatic nerves.

Conclusions:

• Extracorporeal shock wave (ECSW) therapy effectively protects the sciatic nerve against diabetes mellitus-induced neuropathy.
• ECSW demonstrates therapeutic potential by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in diabetic neuropathy.
• The findings support ECSW as a viable treatment strategy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.