Epigenetic reprogramming in metabolic disorders: nutritional factors and beyond.

Zhiyong Cheng, Louise Zheng, Fabio A Almeida

Journal: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2019;54():1-10

PMID: 29154162

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Abstract

Environmental factors (e.g., malnutrition and physical inactivity) contribute largely to metabolic disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiometabolic disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. The abnormalities in metabolic activity and pathways have been increasingly associated with altered DNA methylation, histone modification and noncoding RNAs, whereas lifestyle interventions targeting diet and physical activity can reverse the epigenetic and metabolic changes. Here we review recent evidence primarily from human studies that links DNA methylation reprogramming to metabolic derangements or improvements, with a focus on cross-tissue (e.g., the liver, skeletal muscle, pancreas, adipose tissue and blood samples) epigenetic markers, mechanistic mediators of the epigenetic reprogramming, and the potential of using epigenetic traits to predict disease risk and intervention response. The challenges in epigenetic studies addressing the mechanisms of metabolic diseases and future directions are also discussed and prospected.

Address: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Fralin Translational Obesity Research Center, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Fralin Translational Obesity Research Center, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.; Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.10.004