Epigenetic changes occur as a result of factors including environment and lifestyle, and can affect the function of genes.
Charlotte Ling and her colleagues have analysed insulin producing cells of both healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes.
The analysis revealed epigenetic changes in approximately 800 genes in those with type 2 diabetes. Over 100 of the genes also had altered expression and numerous could contribute to reduced insulin production. Reduced insulin production is one of the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes. In order to work out which is the chicken and which is the egg, i.e. whether the epigenetic changes are a consequence of the disease or if the disease is a result of the changes, the researchers also investigated whether healthy individuals had epigenetic changes caused by age, BMI and raised blood sugar levels.
“We were able to observe that a number of epigenetic changes had already taken place in healthy subjects as a result of age or high BMI, and were therefore able to conclude that these changes could contribute to the development of the disease”, said Charlotte Ling.
“Unlike genes that can’t be changed, epigenetic changes are reversible”, Tasnim Dayeh, first author of the publication in PLOS Genetics, adds.
Drugs that cause epigenetic changes have long been used in the treatment of cancer and epilepsy. The new survey changes the view of epigenetics in relation to diabetes, according to Charlotte Ling.
“It shows that epigenetics is of major significance for type 2 diabetes, and can help us to understand why people develop the condition. This also opens the way for the development of future drugs.”
What is epigenetics?
The cells of the body contain our genetic make-up (DNA), which contains genes. Our genes are inherited and cannot be altered. On the genes are epigenetic modifications e.g. ‘methyl groups’, which affect the expression and function of the genes, i.e. whether it is ‘on’ or ‘off’. The methyl groups can be influenced in different ways through exercise, diet and lifestyle, in a process known as DNA methylation. This is epigenetics, a relatively new research field that has received an increasing amount of interest in recent years.
Contact: Charlotte Ling, charlotte [dot] ling [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (charlotte[dot]ling[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se) , tel.: +46 706 145146
Link to the article in PLOS Genetics