Functional roles and mechanisms of ROS-dependent sumoylation in diabetic neuropathy (B06)

• Subject Area: Pharmacology ; Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism
• Term: from 2014 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236360313

Diabetic neuropathy (DPN) is a frequent, debilitating and therapy-resistant late complication of diabetes. Our previous work using gene-targeted mice clarified mechanisms underlying oxidative stress-related axonal damage and sensory abnormalities and showed that sumoylation of key metabolic proteins and ion-channels in peripheral sensory neurons as well as Schwann cells plays a key protective role against diabetic neuropathy in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Based upon these insights, in the third funding period we now aim to elucidate how diabetes leads impedes the protective function of sumoylation and develop strategies to consolidate sumoylation with a view towards stopping or reversing sensory loss.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1118: Reactive metabolites as a cause of diabetes complications
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Nitin Agarwal; Professorin Dr. Rohini Kuner