Neuroinflammation-Based Novel Biomarkers for Early Detection of Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most common and debilitating complications of diabetes, and its prevalence is expected to increase with the growing global diabetes burden. DN is regarded as a neurodegenerative disorder; however, a definitive disease-modifying therapy remains unavailable. Therefore, early recognition and appropriate management are crucial to prevent irreversible nerve damage and to improve clinical outcomes. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques, the early detection of DN remains challenging. Research has been devoted to identifying novel biomarkers that reflect the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying DN. Following the early metabolic disturbances triggered by nutritional excess, multiple pathogenic pathways become activated, leading to chronic lowgrade inflammation. Numerous studies have explored inflammatory biomarkers, including cytokines, chemokines, and immune receptors, which play key roles in the development and progression of DN. Furthermore, growing evidence highlights the pivotal involvement of immune cells mediating neuro– immune crosstalk, supported by molecular data elucidating the underlying mechanisms. This review summarizes recent advances in the discovery of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of DN, with a lowparticular emphasis on neuroinflammation-related pathways.