Dataset Information

Integrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation variations are prevalent in human obesity but evidence of a causative role in disease pathogenesis is limited. Here, we combine epigenome-wide association and integrative genomics to investigate the impact of adipocyte DNA methylation variations in human obesity. We discover extensive DNA methylation changes that are robustly associated with obesity (N=190 samples, 691 loci in subcutaneous and 173 loci in visceral adipocytes, P<1x10-7). We connect obesity-associated methylation variations to transcriptomic changes at >500 target genes, and identify putative methylation-transcription factor interactions. Through Mendelian Randomisation, we infer causal effects of methylation on obesity and obesity-induced metabolic disturbances at 59 independent loci. Targeted methylation sequencing, CRISPR-activation and gene silencing in adipocytes, further identifies regional methylation variations, underlying regulatory elements and novel cellular metabolic effects. Our results indicate DNA methylation is an important determinant of human obesity and its metabolic complications, and reveal mechanisms through which altered methylation may impact adipocyte functions.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE222595 | GEO | 2023/04/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Aims: Adipocytes are critical cornerstones of energy metabolism. While obesity-induced adipocyte dysfunction is associated with insulin resistance and systemic metabolic disturbances, adipogenesis, the formation of new adipocytes and healthy adipose tissue expansion are associated with metabolic benefits. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing adipogenesis is of great clinical potential to efficiently restore metabolic health in obesity. Here we investigate the role of Heart and neural crest derivatives-expressed protein 2 (HAND2) in adipogenesis. Methods: Human white adipose tissue (WAT) were collected in a cross-sectional study of 318 individuals. In vitro, for mechanistic experiments we used primary adipocytes from human and mice as well as human multipotent adipose derived stem (hMADS) cells. Gene silencing was performed using siRNA or genetic inactivation in primary adipocytes from LoxP mouse models with Cre-encoding mRNA. Adipogenesis efficiency was measured by OilRedO staining, qPCR and microarray. A combinatorial RNASeq approach was used to identify gene clusters regulated by HAND2. In vivo, we created a conditional adipocyte Hand2 deletion mouse model using Cre under control of the Adipoq promoter (HAND2AdipoqCRE). Results: We found that HAND2 is an obesity-linked white adipocyte transcription factor regulated by glucocorticoids that was required but insufficient for adipocyte differentiation in vitro. In a large cohort of humans with obesity, WAT HAND2 expression was correlated to body-mass-index (BMI). The HAND2 gene was enriched in white adipocytes compared to brown, induced early in differentiation and responded to DEX, a typical glucocorticoid receptor (GR, encoded by NR3C1) agonist. Silencing of NR3C1 in hMADS or deletion of GR in a transgenic conditional mouse model results in diminished HAND2 expression, establishing that adipocyte HAND2 is regulated by GCs via GR in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we identified gene clusters indirectly regulated by the GR-HAND2 pathway. Interestingly, silencing of HAND2 impaired adipocyte differentiation in hMADS and primary mouse adipocytes. However, a conditional adipocyte Hand2 deletion mouse model using Cre under control of the Adipoq promoter did not mirror these effects on adipose tissue differentiation, indicating that Hand2 was required at stages prior to Adipoq expression. Conclusion: In summary, our study identifies HAND2 as a novel obesity-linked adipocyte transcription factor, highlighting new mechanisms of GR-dependent adipogenesis in human and mice.

Dataset Information

Integrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure