Secretory Acid Sphingomyelinase in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

Our study evaluated, for the first time, the in vivo activity of S-ASMase in a pediatric cohort of patients with T1D. In pediatric patients with new-onset T1D, we found a significantly higher S-ASMase activity as compared to that observed in patients with established T1D. In all T1D patients, the positive correlation between S-ASMase activity, HbA1c, and triglyceride levels, as well as the negative correlation between S-ASMase activity and HDL-C levels, suggests a potential role played by sphingolipids in T1D pathophysiology. Further mechanistic studies are needed to better elucidate the role of S-ASMase in patients with T1D at different stages of the disease.