The Relationship Between Cholesterol Level, Cytokine Profile, and Arterial Stiffness in Young Patients with...

Arterial stiffness indicates early atherosclerotic changes prevalent in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D), even in those with a well-controlled disease and without additional cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and cytokine levels can indicate vascular stiffness in pediatric patients without conventional microangiopathic complications who are not undergoing lipid-lowering therapy. The total study group consisted of 59 pediatric patients divided into two subgroups based on their LDL cholesterol levels and matched for age, age at onset, and duration of diabetes. The investigation involved the precise measurement of several biomarkers including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 35 (IL-35), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 12 (IL-12), interleukin 18 (IL-18), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Soluble Platelet Selectin (sP-Selectin), Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), and Receptors for Advanced Glycation End Products (sRAGE). Arterial stiffness was assessed by calculating pulsatility indices in the common carotid artery and the peripheral arteries in the upper and lower limbs. The comparative analysis indicated that, in the subgroup with LDL cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, in comparison to the subgroup with LDL above 100 mg/dL, there was a significant increase in pulsatility indices in elastic and large muscle arteries and notably higher levels of IL-35, IL-10, sVCAM-1, and ICAM-1. This study is the first to recommend the pulsatility index of elastic and large muscular arteries as an effective diagnostic tool for evaluating early atherosclerotic lesions in children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Elevated LDL cholesterol levels may contribute to vascular stiffness through mechanisms related to a weakened inflammatory response, highlighting the complex interaction between lipid levels, inflammation, and vascular health in patients with type 1 diabetes.