Analysis of epigenetic memory induced by maternal hyperglycemia focusing on DNA methylation and its application to preemptive medicine

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11642
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Naoichi 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (70419547)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: DNAメチル化 / エピゲノム記憶 / 糖脂質代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study revealed that DNA methylation changes dramatically in the mouse liver in prenatal period. The study also revealed that changes in DNA methylation are essential for the functional maturation of the liver as a metabolic organ in this period and identified several metabolism-related transcription factors as regulators of DNA methylation. Maternal hyperglycemia caused significant expression changes in a group of genes belonging to GOterms involved in chromatin structure, such as DNA methylation and nucleosome assembly, in the liver of the pups, suggesting that maternal hyperglycemia may affect the establishment of DNA methylation in the postnatal periods.This study suggests that DNA methylation and its regulators may be useful factors for assessing the risk of future development of lifestyle-related diseases in newborns and as therapeutic targets.

Free Research Field

糖尿病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により出生児の将来的な生活習慣病発症のリスクの評価や治療標的としてDNAメチル化とその制御因子が有用な因子となりうることが示唆された。また出生前後の肝臓の代謝臓器としての機能成熟における遺伝子発現とDNAメチル化の変化、およびその制御因子についての基盤となるデータを得ることができた。