With consideration of multifactorial etiology of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, an ideal drug or drug combination should target at least several key pathogenetic mechanisms. The flavonoid baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone) has been reported to counteract sorbitol accumulation, activation of 12/15-lipoxygenase, oxidative-nitrosative stress, inflammation, and impaired signaling in models of chronic disease. This study evaluated baicalein on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Control and streptozotocin-diabetic C57Bl6/J mice were maintained with or without baicalein treatment (30 mgkg−1d−1, i.p., for 4 weeks after 12 weeks without treatment). Neuropathy was evaluated by sciatic motor and hind-limb digital sensory nerve conduction velocities, thermal algesia (Hargreaves test), tactile response threshold (flexible von Frey filament test), and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (fluorescent immunohistochemistry with confocal microscopy). Sciatic nerve and spinal cord 12/15-lipoxygenase and total and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression and nitrated protein levels were evaluated by Western blot analysis, 12(S)hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid concentration (a measure of 12/15-lipoxygenase activity) by ELISA, and glucose and sorbitol pathway intermediate concentrations by enzymatic spectrofluorometric assays. Baicalein did not affect diabetic hyperglycemia, and alleviated nerve conduction deficit and small sensory nerve fiber dysfunction, but not intraepidermal nerve fiber loss. It counteracted diabetes-associated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, oxidative-nitrosative stress, and 12/15-lipoxygenase overexpression and activation, but not glucose or sorbitol pathway intermediate accumulation. In conclusion, baicalein targets several mechanisms implicated in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The findings provide rationale for studying hydroxyflavones with improved pharmacological profile as potential treatments for diabetic neuropathy and other diabetic complications.

This study evaluated the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in systemic oxidative stress and 4-hydoxynonenal adduct accumulation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats were maintained with or without treatment with the PARP inhibitor, 1,5-isoquinolinediol, 3 mg kg −1 d −1 , for 10 weeks after initial 2 weeks. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated protein content in peripheral nerve and spinal cord (Western blot analysis) and dorsal root ganglion neurons and non-neuronal cells (fluorescent immunohistochemistry), as well as by indices of peripheral nerve function. Diabetic rats displayed increased urinary isoprostane and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine excretion (ELISA), 4-hydroxynonenal adduct accumulation in endothelial and Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes of the spinal cord, and neurons and glial cells of the dorsal root ganglia (double-label fluorescent immunohistochemistry) as well as motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity deficits, thermal hypoalgesia, and tactile allodynia. PARP inhibition counteracted diabetes-induced systemic oxidative stress and 4-hydroxynonenal adduct accumulation in peripheral nerve and spinal cord (Western blot analysis) and dorsal root ganglion neurons (perikarya, fluorescent immunohistochemistry) which correlated with improvement of large and small nerve fiber function. The findings reveal the important role of PARP activation in systemic oxidative stress and 4-hydroxynonenal adduct accumulation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Keywords4-hydroxynonenal adduct; 1,5-isoquinolinediol; peripheral diabetic neuropathy; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; systemic oxidative stress Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects at least 50% of diabetic subjects with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States, and is the leading cause of foot amputation [1][2][3][4]. Pathogenetic mechanisms of DPN include, but are not limited to, activation of aldose reductase [5][6][7][8], advanced glycation end-product/receptor for advanced Address for correspondence and reprint request: Irina G.Obrosova, Ph.D., Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, Tel. (225) FAX. (225) 763-0274, obrosoig@pbrc.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Growing evidence suggests the important contribution of oxidative stress and poly(ADPribose) polymerase (PARP) activation to endoneurial nutritive blood flow and motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (MNCV and SNCV) deficits, s...

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) inhibitors prevent or alleviate diabetic nephropathy. This study evaluated the role for PARP-1 in diabetic kidney disease using the PARP-1-deficient mouse. PARP-1−/− and the wild-type (129S1/SvImJ) mice were made diabetic with streptozotocin, and were maintained for 12 weeks. Final blood glucose concentrations were increased ~3.7-fold in both diabetic groups. PARP-1 protein expression (Western blot analysis) in the renal cortex was similar in non-diabetic and diabetic wild-type mice (100% and 107%) whereas all knockouts were PARP-1-negative. PARP-1 gene deficiency reduced urinary albumin (ELISA) and protein excretion, prevented diabetes-induced kidney hypertrophy, and decreased mesangial expansion and collagen deposition (both assessed by histochemistry) as well as fibronectin expression. Renal podocyte loss (immunohistochemistry) and nitrotyrosine and transforming growth factor-β1 accumulations (both by ELISA) were slightly lower in diabetic PARP-1−/− mice, but the differences with diabetic wild-type group did not achieve statistical significance. In conclusion, PARP-1−/− gene deficiency alleviates although does not completely prevent diabetic kidney disease.