Cutaneous activation of rage in nonsystemic vasculitic and diabetic neuropathy

Introduction: We asked whether the receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is related to dermal inflammation in nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) and diabetic neuropathy (DN) and whether its presence in skin is comparable to that in sural nerve biopsies. Methods: We immunoreacted skin biopsy samples from 17 NSVN and 7 DN patients who had also undergone sural nerve biopsy, and 14 healthy controls with antibodies to advanced glycation end products (AGE), RAGE, T-cells, and macrophages. Results: AGE and RAGE immunoreactivity were present in vessels of nerve biopsies from NSVN and DN. AGE and RAGE were increased in dermal endothelial cells and T-cells of NSVN and DN patients compared with controls. Conclusions: Dermal RAGE is increased in NSVN and DN, supporting the concept of a role of the RAGE pathway in the pathophysiology of dermal inflammation and skin denervation in NSVN and DN.