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36 h fasting of young men influences adipose tissue DNA methylation of LEP and ADIPOQ in a birth weight-dependent manner

Hjort, Line ; Jørgensen, Sine W ; Gillberg, Linn LU ; Hall, Elin LU ; Brøns, Charlotte ; Frystyk, Jan ; Vaag, Allan A. LU and Ling, Charlotte LU orcid (2017) In Clinical Epigenetics 9(1).
Abstract

Background: Subjects born with low birth weight (LBW) display a more energy-conserving response to fasting compared with normal birth weight (NBW) subjects. However, the molecular mechanisms explaining these metabolic differences remain unknown. Environmental influences may dynamically affect epigenetic marks, also in postnatal life. Here, we aimed to study the effects of short-term fasting on leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) DNA methylation and gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from subjects with LBW and NBW. Methods: Twenty-one young LBW men and 18 matched NBW controls were studied during 36 h fasting. Eight subjects from each group completed a control study (overnight fast). We analyzed SAT LEP and ADIPOQ... (More)

Background: Subjects born with low birth weight (LBW) display a more energy-conserving response to fasting compared with normal birth weight (NBW) subjects. However, the molecular mechanisms explaining these metabolic differences remain unknown. Environmental influences may dynamically affect epigenetic marks, also in postnatal life. Here, we aimed to study the effects of short-term fasting on leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) DNA methylation and gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from subjects with LBW and NBW. Methods: Twenty-one young LBW men and 18 matched NBW controls were studied during 36 h fasting. Eight subjects from each group completed a control study (overnight fast). We analyzed SAT LEP and ADIPOQ methylation (Epityper MassARRAY), gene expression (q-PCR), and adipokine plasma levels. Results: After overnight fast (control study), LEP and ADIPOQ DNA methylation levels were higher in LBW compared to those in NBW subjects (p ≤ 0.03) and increased with 36 h fasting in NBW subjects only (p ≤ 0.06). Both LEP and ADIPOQ methylation levels were positively associated with total body fat percentage (p ≤ 0.05). Plasma leptin levels were higher in LBW versus NBW subjects after overnight fasting (p = 0.04) and decreased more than threefold in both groups after 36 h fasting (p ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that fasting induces changes in DNA methylation. This was shown in LEP and ADIPOQ promoters in SAT among NBW but not LBW subjects. The altered epigenetic flexibility in LBW subjects might contribute to their differential response to fasting, adipokine levels, and increased risk of metabolic disease.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adiponectin, Adipose tissue, Epigenetics, Fasting, Leptin, Low birth weight, Type 2 diabetes
in
Clinical Epigenetics
volume
9
issue
1
article number
40
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:28439315
  • wos:000400789600001
  • scopus:85018510839
ISSN
1868-7075
DOI
10.1186/s13148-017-0340-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3e2c0156-69d1-4230-94d8-a0651de40441
date added to LUP
2017-05-18 11:21:18
date last changed
2024-11-26 10:51:44
@article{3e2c0156-69d1-4230-94d8-a0651de40441,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Subjects born with low birth weight (LBW) display a more energy-conserving response to fasting compared with normal birth weight (NBW) subjects. However, the molecular mechanisms explaining these metabolic differences remain unknown. Environmental influences may dynamically affect epigenetic marks, also in postnatal life. Here, we aimed to study the effects of short-term fasting on leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) DNA methylation and gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from subjects with LBW and NBW. Methods: Twenty-one young LBW men and 18 matched NBW controls were studied during 36 h fasting. Eight subjects from each group completed a control study (overnight fast). We analyzed SAT LEP and ADIPOQ methylation (Epityper MassARRAY), gene expression (q-PCR), and adipokine plasma levels. Results: After overnight fast (control study), LEP and ADIPOQ DNA methylation levels were higher in LBW compared to those in NBW subjects (p ≤ 0.03) and increased with 36 h fasting in NBW subjects only (p ≤ 0.06). Both LEP and ADIPOQ methylation levels were positively associated with total body fat percentage (p ≤ 0.05). Plasma leptin levels were higher in LBW versus NBW subjects after overnight fasting (p = 0.04) and decreased more than threefold in both groups after 36 h fasting (p ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that fasting induces changes in DNA methylation. This was shown in LEP and ADIPOQ promoters in SAT among NBW but not LBW subjects. The altered epigenetic flexibility in LBW subjects might contribute to their differential response to fasting, adipokine levels, and increased risk of metabolic disease.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hjort, Line and Jørgensen, Sine W and Gillberg, Linn and Hall, Elin and Brøns, Charlotte and Frystyk, Jan and Vaag, Allan A. and Ling, Charlotte}},
  issn         = {{1868-7075}},
  keywords     = {{Adiponectin; Adipose tissue; Epigenetics; Fasting; Leptin; Low birth weight; Type 2 diabetes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Clinical Epigenetics}},
  title        = {{36 h fasting of young men influences adipose tissue DNA methylation of LEP and ADIPOQ in a birth weight-dependent manner}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13148-017-0340-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s13148-017-0340-8}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}