Adipose tissue and blood leukocytes ACE2 DNA methylation in obesity and after weight loss.
Eur J Clin Invest
; 52(2): e13685, 2022 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34582564
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Obesity was consistently associated with a poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Epigenetic mechanisms were proposed as the link between obesity and comorbidities risk.AIM:
To evaluate the methylation levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene, the main entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2, in different depots of adipose tissue (AT) and leukocytes (PBMCs) in obesity and after weight loss therapy based on a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), a balanced hypocaloric diet (HCD) or bariatric surgery (BS). MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
DNA methylation levels of ACE2 were extracted from our data sets generated by the hybridization of subcutaneous (SAT) (n = 32) or visceral (VAT; n = 32) adipose tissue, and PBMCs (n = 34) samples in Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips. Data were compared based on the degree of obesity and after 4-6 months of weight loss either by following a nutritional or surgical treatment and correlated with ACE2 transcript levels.RESULTS:
As compared with normal weight, VAT from patients with obesity showed higher ACE2 methylation levels. These differences were mirrored in PBMCs but not in SAT. The observed obesity-associated methylation of ACE2 was reversed after VLCKD and HCD but not after BS. Among the studied CpG sites, cg16734967 and cg21598868, located at the promoter, were the most affected and correlated with BMI. The observed DNA methylation pattern was inversely correlated with ACE2 expression.CONCLUSION:
Obesity-related VAT shows hypermethylation and downregulation of the ACE2 gene that is mirrored in PBMCs and is restored after nutritional weight reduction therapy. The results warrant the necessity to further evaluate its implication for COVID-19 pathogenesis.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
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Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Leucocitos Mononucleares
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Grasa Intraabdominal
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Grasa Subcutánea
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Receptores de Coronavirus
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Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2
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Obesidad
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur J Clin Invest
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
España