Diabetes medication associates with DNA methylation of metformin transporter genes in the human liver
Files
Self archived version
published versionDate
2017Author(s)
Unique identifier
10.1186/s13148-017-0400-0Metadata
Show full item recordMore information
Self-archived item
Citation
García-Calzón Sonia. Perfilyev Alexander. Männistö Ville. de Mello Vanessa D. Nilsson Emma. Pihlajamäki Jussi. Ling Charlotte. (2017). Diabetes medication associates with DNA methylation of metformin transporter genes in the human liver. Clinical Epigenetics, 9, 102. 10.1186/s13148-017-0400-0.Rights
Abstract
Background
Given that metformin is the most common pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes, understanding the function of this drug is of great importance. Hepatic metformin transporters are responsible for the pharmacologic action of metformin. However, epigenetics in genes encoding metformin transporters has not been fully elucidated. We examined the DNA methylation of these genes in the liver of subjects with type 2 diabetes and tested whether epigenetic alterations associate with diabetes medication, i.e., metformin or insulin plus metformin treatment.
Results
DNA methylation in OCT1 encoded by SLC22A1, OCT3 encoded by SLC22A3, and MATE1 encoded by SLC47A1 was assessed in the human liver. Lower average and promoter DNA methylation of SLC22A1, SLC22A3, and SLC47A1 was found in diabetic subjects receiving just metformin, compared to those who took insulin plus metformin or no diabetes medication. Moreover, diabetic subjects receiving just metformin had a similar DNA methylation pattern in these genes compared to non-diabetic subjects. Notably, DNA methylation was also associated with gene expression, glucose levels, and body mass index, i.e., higher SLC22A3 methylation was related to lower SLC22A3 expression and to insulin plus metformin treatment, higher fasting glucose levels and higher body mass index. Importantly, metformin treatment did also directly decrease DNA methylation of SLC22A1 in hepatocytes cultured in vitro.
Conclusions
Our study supports that metformin decreases DNA methylation of metformin transporter genes in the human liver. Moreover, higher methylation levels in these genes associate with hyperglycaemia and obesity.
Keywords
Link to the original item
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13148-017-0400-0Publisher
Springer NatureCollections
- Terveystieteiden tiedekunta [1735]