Spinal cord stimulation induces Neurotrophin‑3 to improve diabetic foot disease

This study investigates the therapeutic effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on diabetic foot disease. It examines both human patients and a rat model of diabetic foot injury to understand how SCS might help. The researchers looked at levels of specific proteins (NGF, BDNF, and NT-3) in the blood before and after SCS therapy. They also tested if NT-3, one of these proteins, plays a direct role in wound healing using the rat model. The results suggest that SCS improves the condition of patients with diabetic foot disease, potentially by increasing the production of NT-3. Both SCS and direct NT-3 treatment show promise for improving wound healing in diabetic foot conditions.

• 1
  SCS therapy improved the condition of patients with diabetic ischemic foot disease, as indicated by clinical assessments.
• 2
  NT-3 levels significantly increased after SCS therapy in both patients and the rat model, suggesting a link between SCS and NT-3 production.
• 3
  Recombinant NT-3 administration improved wound healing and re-vascularization in the rat model, while NT-3 neutralization abrogated SCS’s therapeutic effect, confirming NT-3's role.