Hypermethylation in the promoter of the MTHFR gene is associated with diabetic complications and biochemical indicators

• Published in: Diabetology and metabolic syndrome Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 84 - 9
• Main Authors: dos Santos Nunes, Mayara Karla, Silva, Alexandre Sérgio, de Queiroga Evangelista, Isabella Wanderley, Filho, João Modesto, Gomes, Cecília Neta Alves Pegado, do Nascimento, Rayner Anderson Ferreira, Luna, Rafaella Cristhine Pordeus, de Carvalho Costa, Maria José, de Oliveira, Naila Francis Paulo, Persuhn, Darlene Camati
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 18.10.2017; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Anticoagulants; Antioxidants; Binding proteins; Binding sites; Biochemical markers; Blood glucose; C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular disease; Care and treatment; Cholesterol; Creatinine; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetic retinopathy; Diagnosis; DNA; DNA methylation; Endocrinology; Enzymes; Epigenetics; Gene expression; Genetic polymorphisms; Glycoproteins; Glycosylated hemoglobin; Hemoglobin; High density lipoprotein; Homocysteine; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation; Leukocytes; Low density lipoprotein; Malondialdehyde; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolism; Methylation; Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; Nephropathy; Oxidative stress; Proteins; Reference services; Respiratory distress syndrome; Retinopathy; Statistical analysis; Transcription; Triglycerides; Type 2 diabetes; Urine; Methylation Profiles; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR); Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM); Hypermethylation Profile; MTHFR Gene
• ISSN: 1758-5996; 1758-5996
• DOI: 10.1186/s13098-017-0284-3

Background DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for regulating the transcription of many genes and has been linked to the development of various diseases. A promising gene to investigate is methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), since the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) promotes methyl radical synthesis in the homocysteine cycle and can provide methyl groups for DNA methylation. In addition, several studies have correlated gene polymorphisms of this enzyme with a greater risk of diabetes, but little is known regarding the relationship between epigenetic changes in this gene and diabetes and its complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between methylation profile in the MTHFR gene promoter and biochemical, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who have been diagnosed for 5–10 years with or without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and nephropathy (DN). Methods Specific PCR for methylation (MSP) was used to analyze MTHFR methylation profile in leucocytes DNA. Biochemical markers (glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, serum creatinine), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein) and oxidative stress (total antioxidant and malonaldehyde) were determined in peripheric blood samples and microalbuminuria in 24 h urine samples. The X 2 and Mann–Whitney statistical tests were performed and p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results The hypermethylated profile was most frequently observed in individuals with retinopathy (p < 0.01) and was associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL levels (p = 0.0046, 0.0267, respectively). Individuals with DN and hypermethylated profiles had higher levels of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (p = 0.0080) and total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.0169) compared to subjects without complications. Conclusions Hypermethylation in the promoter of the MTHFR gene is associated with the occurrence of DR and with biochemical, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in the context of chronic complications