Article
Environmental Sciences
Millissia Ben Maamar, Eric Nilsson, Jennifer L. M. Thorson, Daniel Beck, Michael K. Skinner
Summary: Exposure to dioxin can promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease susceptibility, and this study used EWAS to identify sperm DNA methylation biomarkers for specific transgenerational diseases, demonstrating the potential to develop similar biomarkers for humans to diagnose disease susceptibilities and facilitate preventative medicine.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Annalisa Roberti, Agustin F. Fernandez, Mario F. Fraga
Summary: NNMT acts as a key link between cellular metabolism and epigenetic gene regulation, playing a central role in various pathologies. Targeting NNMT pathways represents a current pharmaceutical challenge for treating a range of metabolic-related diseases and cancers.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Zatterale, Gregory Alexander Raciti, Immacolata Prevenzano, Alessia Leone, Michele Campitelli, Veronica De Rosa, Francesco Beguinot, Luca Parrillo
Summary: Epigenetic changes affecting immune cell phenotype and function play an important role in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have shown specific epigenetic profiles in immune cells from obese and T2D individuals, compared to healthy subjects. Targeting these epigenetic marks could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating inflammation associated with obesity and T2D.
Article
Oncology
Bianca Vezzani, Marianna Carinci, Maurizio Previati, Stefania Giacovazzi, Mario Della Sala, Roberta Gafa, Giovanni Lanza, Mariusz R. Wieckowski, Paolo Pinton, Carlotta Giorgi
Summary: Epigenetics refers to a group of dynamic, reversible, and heritable modifications within cells that are not caused by gene mutations. These modifications are highly influenced by the surrounding environment and the internal microenvironments of tissues and cells. Understanding the interaction between the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells in terms of epigenetic networks may reveal new targetable mechanisms to prevent tumor progression.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Filip Morys, Mahsa Dadar, Alain Dagher
Summary: This observational cohort study of over 20,000 participants with a mean age of 63 years found that body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage were positively related to markers of systemic inflammation, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Hypertension and diabetes were in turn associated with cerebrovascular disease, which was linked to lower cortical thickness and volume, higher subcortical volumes, and cognitive deficits.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Millissia Ben Maamar, Daniel Beck, Eric E. Nilsson, Deepika Kubsad, Michael K. Skinner
Summary: This study identified epigenetic biomarkers for glyphosate-induced transgenerational diseases and discovered that sperm could potentially act as a biomarker for specific diseases. The findings suggest that epigenetic diagnostics could be used to assess disease susceptibility and facilitate preventative medicine.
Review
Plant Sciences
Pierre Baduel, Eriko Sasaki
Summary: Recent population genomic studies in plants have identified key genetic determinants, trans modifiers, that influence epigenetic states genome-wide and their interplay with environmental factors. This knowledge provides new opportunities to address long-standing questions about the establishment of environment-associated epigenetic variation and its relevance in adaptation.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomoki Sato, Carolina Magdalen Greco
Summary: Circadian rhythms play a central role in regulating physiological and metabolic processes by dynamically influencing gene expression through epigenetic changes. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress and redox balance are controlled by circadian rhythms and in turn affect the clock system. Disruption of circadian rhythms leads to oxidative stress accumulation and disturbances in redox balance, along with significant changes in the epigenomic landscape.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Anna Peeters, Kathryn Backholer
Summary: Diet is a significant factor in noncommunicable diseases, and the relationship between diet quality and education, income, and food access remains inconclusive. A new study utilizing novel big data sources highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health to improve population diets.
NATURE REVIEWS ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Economics
Nathalie Mathieu-Bolh
Summary: Obesity has been a significant public health and policy issue for several decades, with literature pointing to both non-economic and economic factors as contributors. While poverty appears connected to obesity in affluent countries, empirical studies suggest a more complex relationship between income and obesity, which may vary as countries develop over time. Recent theoretical explanations have emerged to better understand this intricate link, aiming to provide a solid foundation for informed policy-making.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Brian T. Joyce, Huikun Liu, Leishen Wang, Jun Wang, Yinan Zheng, Drew Nannini, Alex Drong, Stephanie Shiau, Weiqin Li, Junhong Leng, Yun Shen, Ru Gao, Andrea Baccarelli, Gang Hu, Lifang Hou
Summary: The study identified DNA methylation sites in candidate genes IGF1, IGF2, H19, ARHGRF11, MEST, NR3C1, ADIPOQ, and RETN associated with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and macrosomia. Specific CpGs in MEST and IGF2 were found to mediate the relationship between GDM and macrosomia, suggesting potential mechanisms for fetal growth and development. These findings provide a promising avenue for future research, early detection, and precision prevention.
Review
Cell Biology
Miao Pan, Ruiqing Tai, Yanrong Liu, Zhuwen Sun, Huan Yuan, Qiong Wu, Yongnian Liu, Chao Sun
Summary: Obesity is characterized by persistent low-level inflammation and insulin resistance, with pyroptosis playing a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. Targeting pyroptosis-related molecules may offer a new potential therapy for obesity-related inflammatory diseases.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michelatonio De Fano, Desiree Bartolini, Cristina Tortoioli, Cristiana Vermigli, Massimo Malara, Francesco Galli, Giuseppe Murdolo
Summary: This article summarizes the potential mechanisms by which adaptive changes to variations of energy balance may impair adipose plasticity and promote fat organ dysfunction. It also discusses the impact of perturbing the adipose microenvironment on the development of cardio-metabolic complications, focusing on adipose lipoxidation, inflammation, and cellular senescence. The scientific rationale for proposing adipose organ plasticity as a target to curb/prevent adiposity-linked cardio-metabolic complications is also presented.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Giovanna Muscogiuri, Eleonora Poggiogalle, Luigi Barrea, Maria G. Tarsitano, Francesco Garifalos, Alessia Liccardi, Gabriella Pugliese, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao
Summary: Exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) is associated with health risks, especially obesity and cancer. Suppression of melatonin secretion, circadian rhythm disruption, gut dysbiosis, and inflammation are among the mechanisms linking ALAN exposure to these diseases.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Francisca Salas-Perez, Tais Silveira Assmann, Omar Ramos-Lopez, J. Alfredo Martinez, Jose Ignacio Riezu-Boj, Fermin I. Milagro
Summary: This study found a link between gut microbiota and DNA methylation patterns in individuals with obesity. Through DNA methylation and bacterial DNA sequencing analysis, they identified BMI-related differentially methylated DNA regions (DMRs) and bacterial genera. The abundance of Ruminococcus was found to be negatively correlated with BMI, and it was associated with a hypermethylated DMR located between the MACROD2/SEL1L2 genes. The mediation test showed that 19% of the effect of Ruminococcus abundance on BMI is mediated by the methylation of the MACROD2/SEL1L2 DMR. These findings suggest that crosstalk between gut microbiota and epigenetic markers may contribute to obesity development.
