Astrocytic and neuronal biochemical markers in the sera of subjects with diabetes mellitus.

To determine if clinical diabetes is associated with disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and/or brain injury, enzyme-linked immunoassays and Western blots were used to measure serum levels of S100B, NSE and their auto-antibodies in type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects. Serum S100B concentrations in type 2 diabetic subjects, but not in type 1 diabetic subjects, were significantly lower than those found in healthy controls. There were no significant differences in serum NSE levels of either type 1 or type 2 diabetics compared to healthy controls.