Is rarefaction of the peripheral nerve network in diabetic patients associated with a pronounced reduction of terminal Schwann cells?
The subepidermal nerve plexus, comprising nerve fibers and ensheathing Schwann cells, was significantly reduced in diabetic patients. Whether the reduction in terminal Schwann cells is cause or consequence of the loss of peripheral nerve fibers remains to be investigated.
Highly allosensitized patients awaiting renal transplants appear to be at no increased risk of xenosensitization over their non-sensitized cohorts, and could therefore be candidates for xenotransplantation using GalT-KO swine donors.