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A Zebrafish Model of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Memory
Published on: February 28, 2013
Epigenetics: deciphering its role in diabetes and its chronic complications
Louisa M Villeneuve1, Marpadga A Reddy, Rama Natarajan
1Department of Diabetes, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010, USA.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology
|February 12, 2011
Summary
Epigenetic factors, like histone methylation, may explain why diabetic complications persist after blood sugar control. Understanding these epigenetic mechanisms could lead to new treatments for diabetes complications.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Nephrology
Background:
- Diabetes complications can persist despite normal blood glucose, indicating a 'metabolic memory'.
- Epigenetic modifications, including histone methylation, are increasingly linked to diabetes pathology and its complications.
- Cell-type specific changes in histone methylation patterns are observed under diabetic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of epigenetic factors in the 'metabolic memory' phenomenon in diabetic kidney disease.
- To investigate how histone methylation, DNA methylation, and microRNAs contribute to diabetic nephropathy.
- To understand the potential therapeutic targets for sustained diabetic complications.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on epigenetic modifications in diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.
- Analysis of genome-wide studies on histone methylation patterns in diabetic conditions.
- Examination of long-lasting epigenetic changes in vascular cells exposed to diabetic conditions.
Main Results:
- Dysregulation of histone lysine methylation is implicated in aberrant gene regulation in diabetes.
- Long-lasting epigenetic changes at inflammatory gene promoters suggest a mechanism for metabolic memory.
- Histone methylation, DNA methylation, and microRNAs have demonstrated roles in diabetic nephropathy.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic factors, particularly histone methylation, are strongly implicated in the pathology of diabetes and its complications.
- The role of these epigenetic factors in the metabolic memory of diabetic kidney disease requires further investigation.
- Understanding epigenetic mechanisms could pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies against persistent diabetic complications.
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