Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered a significant and increasing worldwide problem. The growing body of evidence on this topic has allowed us to point out that a hostile intrauterine environment in mothers with GDM via epigenetic mechanisms induces “diabetogenic” and “obesogenic” changes in an offspring’s DNA. This sets a vicious intergenerational cycle of metabolic diseases in motion, gradually deteriorating the health of the human population. One of the most important participants of this process seems to be altered microbiota. There is a chance that the identification of specific epigenetic marks may provide a key for future diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic solutions in the field of personalised medicine. Given the reversibility of most epigenetic changes, there is an opportunity to improve the long-term health of the human population. In this manuscript, we aim to summarise available data on epigenetic changes among women suffering from GDM and their progeny, in association with alterations in the microbiome.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a global metabolic disease
They demonstrated that the DNA methylation status was correlated with gut microbiota composition in obese subjects and that the expression levels of candidate genes involved in glucose and energy homeostasis (e.g., HDAC7 and IGF2BP2) could be epigenetically regulated by gut bacterial populations in adipose tissue
They further noted that hypomethylation in the HDAC7 promoter, in both blood and fat tissue, is related to impaired glucose metabolism, as distinct differences in glucose and HbA1c levels were observed in both study groups
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a global metabolic disease. A significant increase in its incidence rate has been observed for several years. Altered gut microbiota seem to contribute to the development of diabetes GDM in the mother, and, may increase the risk of “diabetogenic” and “obesogenic” changes in her own DNA and in that of the offspring through epigenetic alterations. We attempted to emphasize that gut microbiota dysbiosis, occurring via epigenetic pathways, may contribute to metabolic complications, in affected mothers, and in their offspring. In this manner, pathologic changes can be transferred to subsequent generations, increasing the frequency of obesity, diabetes and inflammatory diseases, which concerns even younger individuals. Given that most epigenetic changes are reversible, the identified epigenetic marks may become important diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets
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