Title: Altered distribution of juxtaparanodal kv1.2 subunits mediates peripheral nerve hyperexcitability in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Authors: Jennifer Zenker, Olivier Poirot, Anne-Sophie de Preux Charles, Estelle Arnaud, Jean-Jacques Médard, Catherine Lacroix, Thierry Kuntzer, Roman Chrast

Journal, date & volume: J. Neurosci., 2012 May 30 , 32, 7493-8

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22649228

Abstract
Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH) is one of the distal peripheral neuropathy phenotypes often present in patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Through in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological recordings in db/db mice, a model of T2DM, we observed that, in addition to reduced nerve conduction velocity, db/db mice also develop PNH. By using pharmacological inhibitors, we demonstrated that the PNH is mediated by the decreased activity of K(v)1-channels. In agreement with these data, we observed that the diabetic condition led to a reduced presence of the K(v)1.2-subunits in juxtaparanodal regions of peripheral nerves in db/db mice and in nerve biopsies from T2DM patients. Together, these observations indicate that the T2DM condition leads to potassium channel-mediated PNH, thus identifying them as a potential drug target to treat some of the DPN related symptoms.