Plasma Mucin-1 as a Potential Biomarker for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Neurology

Background:

• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a severe complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), impacting quality of life and increasing amputation risk.
• Early DPN detection is crucial for timely intervention, necessitating reliable screening tools.
• Blood-based biomarkers could significantly enhance DPN screening and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel circulating protein biomarkers for the early detection of DPN in T2D patients.
• To validate the diagnostic potential of identified biomarkers in a larger cohort.

Main Methods:

• Plasma samples from T2D patients and healthy volunteers were screened using antibody arrays to identify differentially expressed proteins.
• Bioinformatic analysis selected six hub proteins for validation via ELISA in a larger cohort.
• Mucin-1 expression was assessed in mouse sciatic nerves.

Main Results:

• Mucin-1 was significantly elevated in the plasma of DPN patients compared to non-DPN T2D patients and healthy controls.
• Plasma mucin-1 levels positively correlated with neuropathy severity scores and negatively with nerve conduction velocities.
• Elevated mucin-1 expression was observed in the sciatic nerves of db/db mice.

Conclusions:

• Plasma mucin-1 is a robust biomarker associated with DPN in both human subjects and animal models.
• Mucin-1 holds significant potential for the screening and early identification of DPN in T2D patients.