Carmen Pheiffer1, Rajiv T Erasmus2, Andre P Kengne3, Tandi E Matsha4. 1. Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: carmen.pheiffer@mrc.ac.za. 2. Division of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. 3. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: matshat@cput.ac.za.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence supports the role of epigenetic modifications, and in particular DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Alterations in methylation patterns within promoter regions are linked with aberrant transcription and pathological gene expression; however the role of methylation within non-promoter regions is not yet fully elucidated. DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed whole genome methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) in peripheral-blood-derived DNA from age-gender-body mass index (BMI)-ethnicity matched type 2 diabetic, pre-diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. RESULTS: The density of methylation normalized to the average length of the promoter, intergenic and intragenic regions and to CpG count was 3.17, 9.80 and 0.09 for the promoter, intergenic and intragenic regions, respectively. Methylation within these regions varied according to glucose tolerance status and was associated with hypermethylation rather than hypomethylation. MicroRNA-DNA methylation peaks accounted for 4.8% of the total number of peaks detected. Differential DNA methylation of these microRNA peaks was observed during dysglycemia, with the promoter, intergenic and intragenic regions accounting for 2%, 95% and 3% respectively, of the differentially methylated microRNA peaks. CONCLUSION: Genome-wide DNA methylation varied according to glucose tolerance. Methylation within non-promoter regions accounted for the majority of differentially methylated peaks identified, thus highlighting the importance of DNA methylation within these non-promoter regions in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. This study suggests that DNA methylation within intergenic regions is a mechanism regulating microRNAs, another increasingly important epigenetic factor, during type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence supports the role of epigenetic modifications, and in particular DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Alterations in methylation patterns within promoter regions are linked with aberrant transcription and pathological gene expression; however the role of methylation within non-promoter regions is not yet fully elucidated. DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed whole genome methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) in peripheral-blood-derived DNA from age-gender-body mass index (BMI)-ethnicity matched type 2 diabetic, pre-diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. RESULTS: The density of methylation normalized to the average length of the promoter, intergenic and intragenic regions and to CpG count was 3.17, 9.80 and 0.09 for the promoter, intergenic and intragenic regions, respectively. Methylation within these regions varied according to glucose tolerance status and was associated with hypermethylation rather than hypomethylation. MicroRNA-DNA methylation peaks accounted for 4.8% of the total number of peaks detected. Differential DNA methylation of these microRNA peaks was observed during dysglycemia, with the promoter, intergenic and intragenic regions accounting for 2%, 95% and 3% respectively, of the differentially methylated microRNA peaks. CONCLUSION: Genome-wide DNA methylation varied according to glucose tolerance. Methylation within non-promoter regions accounted for the majority of differentially methylated peaks identified, thus highlighting the importance of DNA methylation within these non-promoter regions in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. This study suggests that DNA methylation within intergenic regions is a mechanism regulating microRNAs, another increasingly important epigenetic factor, during type 2 diabetes.
Authors: Carmen Pheiffer; Tarryn Willmer; Stephanie Dias; Yoonus Abrahams; Johan Louw; Julia H Goedecke Journal: Front Genet Date: 2020-09-29 Impact factor: 4.599
Authors: Tandi E Matsha; Carmen Pheiffer; Tinashe Mutize; Rajiv T Erasmus; Andre P Kengne Journal: J Diabetes Res Date: 2016-11-20 Impact factor: 4.011
Authors: Quincy A Hathaway; Mark V Pinti; Andrya J Durr; Shanawar Waris; Danielle L Shepherd; John M Hollander Journal: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Date: 2017-10-06 Impact factor: 4.733