AUTOIMMUNE MECHANISMS IN DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心机构，不一定为研究者机构。与2型糖尿病相关的长期并发症的原因知之甚少。以前的研究表明，2型糖尿病患者在疾病过程中可能会产生自身免疫球蛋白（针对自身组织的自身抗体）。我们将研究一个假设，即有相当比例的2型糖尿病患者在其疾病过程中会慢慢产生自身抗体，这些自身抗体会导致神经系统细胞的损伤和丢失，这是长期糖尿病患者的一个众所周知的并发症。本研究将入组两组2型糖尿病患者。第1组在入组时将患有糖尿病三到四年。第2组在入组时患有糖尿病7至8年。两组都将接受神经系统功能的彻底检查，并抽血筛查自身抗体的存在。所有参与者将在初次测试后三到四年内接受重新评估。这些研究将有助于确定自身免疫机制在2型糖尿病神经损伤自然史中的重要性

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The causes of long-term complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus are poorly understood. Previous studies suggest that patients with type 2 diabetes can develop autoimmune immunoglobulins (autoantibodies directed against their own tissues) during the course of their illness. We will examine the hypothesis that a significant percentage of patients with type 2 diabetes will slowly develop autoantibodies during the course of their illness and that these autoantibodies contribute to the injury and loss of cells in the nervous system, a well-known complication in long-term diabetic patients. Two groups of type 2 diabetic patients will be enrolled in this study. Group 1 will have the diabetes for three to four years at the time of enrollment. Group 2 will have had diabetes for seven to eight years at the time of enrollment. Both groups will undergo a thorough examination of their nervous system function and have blood drawn to screen for the presence of autoantibodies. All participants will undergo re-evaluation between three to four years after the initial testing. These studies will help to determine the significance of autoimmune mechanisms in the natural history of nerve injury that occurs in type 2 diabetes mellitus