title: Time-specific changes in DNA methyltransferases associated with the leptin promoter during the development of obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of epigenetic modifications on leptin expression during the development of obesity has not been clearly determined. This study aimed to investigate changes in the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) at the leptin promoter and their effect on gene transcription during the development of obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese (DIO) mouse model, we examined adipose expression of leptin, its promoter associated DNMTs and the methyl CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) at different time points after HFD feeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The leptin expression levels in epididymal fat were significantly increased after feeding the mice a HFD for 4, 8, 12 and 18 weeks (w), as opposed to feeding them a standard diet (SD). However, the CpG promoter methylation fractions were significantly reduced at 8 w with a decreased association of MBD2 and DNMT1, and increased at 12 w and 18 w with an increased association of MBD2, DNMT3A and DNMT3B, after HFD feeding. Additionally, the binding of RNA polymerase II was increased at 8 w and decreased at 18 w after HFD feeding compared with SD feeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that time-specific changes in promoter associated DNMTs may be associated with the regulation of leptin expression, indicating that a complex and dynamic epigenetic mechanism underlies aberrant leptin expression during the development of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Chaonan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Huicong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100045 Beijing. China.. qikemin@bch.com.cn.
authors.forename: Kemin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases