Abstract
BackgroundThe expression of some genes controlling energy homeostasis could be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms that may play a role in body weight regulation. Thus, it is known that various nutritional factors affect DNA methylation. In order to assess whether the macronutrient composition of the diet could be related to the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and with obesity development, we investigated the effects on methylation and expression patterns of two pair-fed isocaloric diets in rats: control (rich in starch) and HFS (rich in fat and sucrose).ResultsThe pair-fed HFS diet induced higher weight gain and adiposity as compared to the controls as well as liver triglyceride accumulation and oxidative stress. Feeding the HFS diet impaired glucose tolerance and serum triglycerides and cholesterol. Liver glucokinase expression, a key glycolytic gene, remained unaltered, as well as the mRNA values of fatty acid synthase and NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 beta subcomplex, 6 (NDUFB6) in liver and visceral adipocytes, which regulate lipogenesis and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, respectively. Liver expression of hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HADHB), a key gene of β-oxidation pathway, was higher in the HFS-fed animals. However, the methylation status of CpG islands in HADHB and glucokinase genes remained unchanged after feeding the HFS diet.ConclusionsThese results confirm that the distribution and type of macronutrients (starch vs. sucrose, and percent of fat) influence obesity onset and the associated metabolic complications. HFS diets produce obesity independently of total energy intake, although apparently no epigenetic (DNA methylation) changes accompanied the modifications observed in gene expression.
Highlights
The expression of some genes controlling energy homeostasis could be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms that may play a role in body weight regulation
Among the different mechanisms that could lead to interindividual differences in fat deposition and obesity, the epigenetic regulation of gene expression has emerged in the last years as a potentially important contributor [1]
The aim of this study was to test whether differences in dietary macronutrient composition can induce changes in the methylation patterns of several key metabolic genes, and whether these epigenetic processes could be related to changes in gene expression of these genes and on obesity development
Summary
The expression of some genes controlling energy homeostasis could be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms that may play a role in body weight regulation. Changes in DNA methylation patterns could be a result of the interplay of various dietary and environmental factors and could be the cause of inter-individual differences concerning the susceptibility to develop obesity and other metabolic diseases [1]. In this context, the intake of methyl donors (betaine, choline, methionine, zinc, and folate) are likely to alter DNA methylation, and some macronutrients such as fatty acids intake could be involved [6]
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