Hypermethylation of hepatic glucokinase and L-type pyruvate kinase promoters in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Endocrinology. 2011 Apr;152(4):1284-9. doi: 10.1210/en.2010-1162. Epub 2011 Jan 14.

Abstract

Obesity-dependent insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus are closely associated with decreased glucose utilization and down-regulation of hepatic glycolytic enzymes expression. Previously, we showed that DNA hypermethylation is involved in age-dependent susceptibility to hepatic insulin resistance and diabetes. However, what we cannot distinguish is whether the age-related obesity contributes to DNA hypermethylation in those natural aging rats. In the present study, we hypothesize that DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of glycolytic enzymes in the high-fat diet-induced obesity. Here, we report that DNA hypermethylation is correlated with a decline in hepatic glucokinase (Gck) and L-type pyruvate kinase (LPK) expression in high-fat diet-induced obese rats as compared with the control diet group. Down-regulation of Gck and LPK expression are reversed by the 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in the cell model of steatosis. These novel observations indicate that DNA methylation is involved in the development of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, suggesting that the hypermethylation level of Gck and LPK promoters may be a useful parameter for the evaluation of obesity-induced insulin resistance and fatty liver.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects*
  • Glucokinase / genetics*
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / genetics*
  • Palmitates / adverse effects
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics*
  • Pyruvate Kinase / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Palmitates
  • Glucokinase
  • Pyruvate Kinase