Enhancement Peripheral Regeneration as a Target of Potential Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment from Lumbricus rubellus Fraction DLBS1033N: the role of cell viability and migration

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) significantly affects the quality of life with no definitive therapy currently. Given the pathologic basis for DPN treatment, it's critical to promote neuron regeneration while also restricting nerve degeneration. Schwann cells that play pivotal roles against peripheral regeneration manifest cell proliferation and survival inhibition in diabetic patients consecutively decreased peripheral regeneration capacity. DLBS1033N, a protein hydrolysate obtained from Lumbricus rubellus, has been confirmed to promote Schwann cell line RSC96 growth and survival by induction Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) expression via phosphatidylinositol-3‑kinase (PI3K) pathway. This pathway has an important contribution against Schwann cell proliferation and migration. Herein, the contribution of DLBS1033N to peripheral regeneration on high-glucose (50mM)-induced rat Schwann cell line RSC96 injury, a well-known DPN in vitro cell model. RSC96 were treated with high glucose (50mM) with or without DLBS1033N 25, 50, and 100μg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h. MTS assay kit were used to evaluate cell viability. DLBS1033N significantly improved cell proliferation in 48 h incubation time with a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Furthermore, DLBS1033N 100μg/ml significantly promoted cell migration by 16% in 48 H incubation (p < 0.05) determined by scratch assay, as the beneficial action to accomplish peripheral regeneration. In conclusion, DLBS1033N enhanced peripheral regeneration which could be used as an effective and promising DPN treatment.