Gene Expression Profiling Of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Type 2 Diabetes Patients With Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy

Objective: To examine changes in gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in type 2 diabetes patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy as compared to type 2 diabetes patients without distal symmetric polyneuropathy and to healthy controls. Methods: We used a 5075 gene cDNA microarray to examine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two type 2 diabetes patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy, two type 2 diabetes patients without distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and two age- and sex-matched controls. Results: A total of twenty-two genes belonging to cell metabolism and signal transduction genes, oncogenes and anti-oncogenes, DNA synthesis and repair genes, ion channel and transport protein genes, DNA-binding, transcription and transcription factor genes, cytoskeleton genes were found to be differentially expressed. Conclusions: Altered gene expression in mononuclear cells may contribute to distal symmetric polyneuropathy pathogenesis.