Association of Exosomal miR-34a with Markers of Dyslipidemia and Endothelial Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents with T1DM

Objective: Dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction are common disorders and major causative factors for atherosclerosis in patients with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, their pathophysiology in young patients with T1DM is still under evaluated. We aimed, for the first time, to assess the expression of exosomal micro-RNA 34a (miR-34a) in serum of children and adolescents with T1DM and correlate this expression with markers of dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction. Methods: The study included 120 T1DM patients and 100 control subjects. Assessment of miR-34a was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Lipid profile was assessed on an automated analyzer and serum endoglin and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) concentrations were measured using immunometric methods. Results: Relative expression of miR-34a and serum endoglin and ICAM concentrations were higher in patients than controls (p = 0.001) and in patients with dyslipidemia (42 patients) compared to patients without dyslipidemia (78 patients) (p = 0.01). Linear regression analysis revealed a strong independent association between exosomal miR-34a expression and total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, serum endoglin and serum ICAM after adjustment for other cofactors. The utility of miR-34a as an indicator for associated dyslipidemia was tested using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis which revealed area under the curve: 0.73 with confidence interval: 0.63-0.83 and p = 0.001. Conclusion: This was the first study to show the altered expression of exosomal miR-34a among children and adolescents with T1DM. Moreover, association of miR-34a with markers of dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction was identified, suggesting that it could play a role in regulation of lipid metabolism and endothelial function in T1DM.