Omentin-1 and NAMPT serum concentrations are higher and CK-18 levels are lower in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes when compared to healthy age, sex and BMI matched controls

Background: Adipokines were shown to affect glucose homeostasis and beta-cell function in patients with pancreatic dysfunction which is associated with changes in the adipose tissue secretory profile. However, information about adipokines associated with beta-cell dysfunction is lacking in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods: (1) We compared serum concentrations of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), omentin-1 and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 fragment M30 (CK-18) in pediatric type 1 diabetes patients (n = 245) and healthy age, sex and body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) matched controls (n = 243). (2) We investigated the influence of insulin treatment on serum concentrations of NAMPT, omentin-1 and CK-18 in groups of patients with type 1 diabetes stratified according to the duration of their disease: at onset (n = 50), >= 6 months and <5 years (n = 185), =5 and <10 years (n = 98), and =10 years (n = 52). Results: Patients at onset compared with healthy controls demonstrated no significant differences in NAMPT levels (p = 0.129), whereas omentin-1 levels were elevated (p < 0.001) and CK-18 levels were lowered (p = 0.034). In contrast, NAMPT and omentin-1 were elevated and CK-18 serum levels were lower in longstanding patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). NAMPT serum levels did not change significantly during the duration of type 1 diabetes (p = 0.546). At onset, omentin-1 and CK-18 levels were higher than in any group of longstanding type 1 diabetes (p < 0.025). Conclusions: Altered serum levels of NAMPT, omentin-1 and CK-18 in pediatric type 1 diabetes patients indicate metabolic changes caused by adipose tissue dysregulation which do not normalize during insulin therapy.