Molecular cross-talk via extracellular vesicles for the characterization of young subjects with type 1 diabetes unravels new potential markers of insulin resistance and double diabetes

Abstract Background Insulin resistance (IR) is commonly calculated using a simple mathematical formula, the eGDR (estimated Glucose Disposal Rate), but in the paediatric type I diabetes (T1DM) population this value has provided contrasting information. We aimed to provide a clearer metabolic “fingerprint” in children with “double diabetes”, focusing on the molecular cross-talk mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs). Methods Paediatric patients were classified based on the eGDR value in: insulin-resistant (T1DM+, eGDR < 8 mg/Kg/min, n = 29) and non-insulin-resistant (T1DM-, eGDR > 8 mg/Kg/min, n = 35). Venous blood collected from them, and 30 healthy controls was used to obtain dried blood spots (DBS) for AAs and ACs analysis by FIA-MS/MS and for EV by a patented flow cytometry method. Then, EVs were subjected to shotgun proteomics analysis by LC-MS/MS. Results Our data showed that T1DM + EVs were packaged with proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism suppression through STAT3 inhibition and related to possible liver damage. ACs on DBS samples corroborated these data, demonstrating a significant increase in oleoylcarnitine (C18:1), linoleoylcarnitine (C18:2), and myristoylcarnitine (C14) in T1DM+. The combination of clinical and metabolic data led to the identification of a statistical model with an out-of-bag error of 0.115%, demonstrating that palmitoleoylcarnitine (C16:1) and C18:1 are the metabolites that best distinguish children with T1DM + from T1DM- ones. C16:1 correlated significantly with eGDR (p = 0.0023). Conclusions Combined “omics” approach allowed us to identify a new metabolic “photograph” in a complex context involving diabetes complications related to obesity and IR in a paediatric population that is not yet fully characterized, identifying EVs as well-organized and functionalized shuttles.