Potential epigenetic dysregulation of genes associated with MODY and type 2 diabetes in humans exposed to a diabetic intrauterine environment: An analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of DNA methylation in mediating the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in offspring of mothers who had diabetes during pregnancy.Materials and MethodsPeripheral blood leukocytes were collected from non-diabetic Pima Indians who were either offspring of diabetic mothers (ODM; n = 14) or offspring of nondiabetic mothers (ONDM; n = 14). The two groups were matched for age, sex, age of mother, and fraction of Pima ethnicity. Differentially methylated regions were determined using a MeDIP-chip assay on an Affymetrix Human Tiling 2.0R Array. Data were analyzed using the model based analysis of tiling arrays (MAT) algorithm, and 4883 regions overlapping with putative promoters, were identified as differentially methylated, having met an empirically derived threshold (nominal p < 0.0077). The list of genes with differentially methylated promoters was subjected to KEGG pathway analysis to determine canonical metabolic pathways enriched by these genes.ResultsPathway analysis of genes with differentially methylated promoters identified the top 3 enriched pathways as maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), type 2 diabetes, and Notch signaling. Several genes in these pathways are known to affect pancreatic development and insulin secretion.ConclusionsThese findings support the hypothesis that epigenetic changes may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes via an effect on β-cell function in the offspring of mothers with diabetes during pregnancy.