The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes
The aim of this study is to assess endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) at the time of type 1 diabetes (T1D) recognition concerning patients’ clinical state, remaining insulin secretion, and further partial remission (PR) occurrence. We recruited 45 children t...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska Sebastian Ciężki Aleksandra Starosz Kamil Grubczak Marcin Moniuszko Artur Bossowski Barbara Głowińska-Olszewska |
| author_facet | Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska Sebastian Ciężki Aleksandra Starosz Kamil Grubczak Marcin Moniuszko Artur Bossowski Barbara Głowińska-Olszewska |
| author_sort | Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study is to assess endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) at the time of type 1 diabetes (T1D) recognition concerning patients’ clinical state, remaining insulin secretion, and further partial remission (PR) occurrence. We recruited 45 children that were admitted to hospital due to newly diagnosed T1D (median age 10.8 yrs), and 20 healthy peers as a control group. EPC and CEC levels were measured at disease onset in PBMC isolated from whole peripheral blood with the use of flow cytometry. Clinical data regarding patients’ condition, C-peptide secretion, and further PR prevalence were analyzed. T1D-diagnosed patients presented higher EPC levels than the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.026), while no statistical differences in CEC levels and EPC/CEC ratio were observed. Considering only T1D patients, those with better clinical conditions presented lower EPCs (<i>p</i> = 0.021) and lower EPC/CEC ratios (<i>p</i> = 0.0002). Patients with C-peptide secretion within a normal range at disease onset presented lower EPC/CEC ratios (<i>p</i> = 0.027). Higher levels of EPCs were observed more frequently in patients with higher glucose, decreased fasting C-peptide, and lower stimulated C-peptide (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). The presence of DKA was related to higher EPC/CEC ratios (<i>p</i> = 0.034). Significantly higher levels of CECs were observed in patients who presented partial remission of the disease at 6 months after diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.03) only. In the study group, positive correlations of CECs with age, BMI at onset, and BMI in following years were observed. EPC/CEC ratios correlated positively with glucose levels at hospital admission and negatively with age, BMI, pH, and stimulated C-peptide level. We reveal a new potential for the application of EPCs and CECs as biomarkers, reflecting both endothelial injury and reconstruction processes in children with T1D. There is a need for further research in order to reduce cardiovascular risk in children with T1D. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d92b8bd8bfcb44aab3a4f4e68531091f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d92b8bd8bfcb44aab3a4f4e68531091f2025-08-20T02:45:34ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-07-011414109510.3390/cells14141095The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 DiabetesMilena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska0Sebastian Ciężki1Aleksandra Starosz2Kamil Grubczak3Marcin Moniuszko4Artur Bossowski5Barbara Głowińska-Olszewska6Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Bialystok, PolandClinical Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetology, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, 02-507 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Bialystok, PolandThe aim of this study is to assess endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) at the time of type 1 diabetes (T1D) recognition concerning patients’ clinical state, remaining insulin secretion, and further partial remission (PR) occurrence. We recruited 45 children that were admitted to hospital due to newly diagnosed T1D (median age 10.8 yrs), and 20 healthy peers as a control group. EPC and CEC levels were measured at disease onset in PBMC isolated from whole peripheral blood with the use of flow cytometry. Clinical data regarding patients’ condition, C-peptide secretion, and further PR prevalence were analyzed. T1D-diagnosed patients presented higher EPC levels than the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.026), while no statistical differences in CEC levels and EPC/CEC ratio were observed. Considering only T1D patients, those with better clinical conditions presented lower EPCs (<i>p</i> = 0.021) and lower EPC/CEC ratios (<i>p</i> = 0.0002). Patients with C-peptide secretion within a normal range at disease onset presented lower EPC/CEC ratios (<i>p</i> = 0.027). Higher levels of EPCs were observed more frequently in patients with higher glucose, decreased fasting C-peptide, and lower stimulated C-peptide (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). The presence of DKA was related to higher EPC/CEC ratios (<i>p</i> = 0.034). Significantly higher levels of CECs were observed in patients who presented partial remission of the disease at 6 months after diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.03) only. In the study group, positive correlations of CECs with age, BMI at onset, and BMI in following years were observed. EPC/CEC ratios correlated positively with glucose levels at hospital admission and negatively with age, BMI, pH, and stimulated C-peptide level. We reveal a new potential for the application of EPCs and CECs as biomarkers, reflecting both endothelial injury and reconstruction processes in children with T1D. There is a need for further research in order to reduce cardiovascular risk in children with T1D.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1095type 1 diabeteschildrenendothelial functionvascular complications |
| spellingShingle | Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska Sebastian Ciężki Aleksandra Starosz Kamil Grubczak Marcin Moniuszko Artur Bossowski Barbara Głowińska-Olszewska The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes Cells type 1 diabetes children endothelial function vascular complications |
| title | The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes |
| title_full | The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes |
| title_short | The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs) as Early Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes |
| title_sort | role of endothelial progenitor cells epcs and circulating endothelial cells cecs as early biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes |
| topic | type 1 diabetes children endothelial function vascular complications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1095 |
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