Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and inflammatory markers in type 1 diabetes after an acute session of aerobic exercise.

OBJECTIVE: To determine circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) counts and levels of inflammatory markers in individuals with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in response to an intense aerobic exercise session. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 15 adult men with T1DM and 15 healthy individuals underwent a 30-minute aerobic exercise session on a cycle ergometer at 60% of the peak heart rate. The EPC count (CD45(dim)/CD34(+)/KDR(+)), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured before and 60 minutes after the session. RESULTS: We found no difference within or between groups regarding EPC counts before and after the aerobic exercise: healthy individuals, 0.02% change (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.04%-0.08%); individuals with T1DM, 0.00% (95%CI -0.01%-0.01%). We also found no difference in TNF-α levels before and after exercise in healthy individuals (210.2, interquartile range [IQR] 142.1-401.2 pg/mL and 191.3, IQR 136.4-350.5 pg/mL, respectively) and in patients with T1DM (463.8, IQR 201.4-4306.0 pg/mL and 482.7, IQR 143.8-4304.3 pg/mL, respectively). Similarly, no difference in IL-6 levels was observed before and after exercise in healthy individuals (148.2, IQR 147.5-148.6 pg/mL and 148.2, IQR 147.7-148.6 pg/mL, respectively) and individuals with T1DM (147.2, IQR 145.9-147.7 pg/mL and 147.2, IQR 146.8-147.8 pg/mL, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T1DM and healthy controls had comparable EPC responses to aerobic exercise, most likely due to the absence of a chronic inflammatory state.