Type 1 Diabetes Patients With Different Residual Beta-Cell Function but Similar Age, HBA1c, and Cardiorespiratory...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Cardiovascular Research
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients often retain residual beta-cell function, crucial for mitigating diabetes complications.
• Reduced numbers and impaired exercise response of progenitor cells (HPCs and EPCs) are linked to cardiovascular disease in T1D.
• The relationship between residual beta-cell function and progenitor cell dynamics in T1D remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of residual beta-cell function on exercise-induced changes in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in individuals with T1D.

Main Methods:

• Observational study involving T1D patients with undetectable (Cpep_und) or high (Cpep_high) stimulated C-peptide levels, and non-diabetic controls.
• Participants underwent 45 minutes of intensive walking.
• Flow cytometry was used to enumerate HPCs (CD34+) and EPCs (CD34+VEGFR2+) at rest and post-exercise.

Main Results:

• Exercise significantly increased HPCs and EPCs in Cpep_high and control groups (+34-121%).
• The Cpep_und group showed no significant increase in HPCs and EPCs post-exercise.
• Post-exercise progenitor cell counts in the Cpep_und group were lower than Cpep_high group at rest.

Conclusions:

• Residual beta-cell function in T1D is associated with preserved exercise-induced mobilization of HPCs and EPCs.
• The lack of progenitor cell mobilization in Cpep_und individuals warrants further investigation into underlying mechanisms and vascular implications.