title: Epigenetic Markers to Predict Conversion From Gestational Diabetes to Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: Lifestyle factors mediate epigenetic changes that can cause chronic diseases. Although animal and laboratory studies link epigenetic changes to diabetes, epigenetic information in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and type 2 diabetes is lacking.
  
  
  
  This study sought to measure epigenetic markers across pregnancy and early postpartum and identify markers that could be used as predictors for conversion from GDM to type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  
  Global histone H3 dimethylation was measured in white blood cells at three time points: 30 wk gestation, 8-10 wk postpartum, and 20 wk postpartum, from four groups of women with and without diabetes.
  
  
  
  A total of 39 participants (six to nine in each group) were recruited including: nondiabetic women; women with GDM who developed postpartum type 2 diabetes; women with GDM without postpartum type 2 diabetes; and women with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  
  Percentages of dimethylation of H3 histones relative to total H3 histone methylation were compared between diabetic/nondiabetic groups using appropriate comparative statistics.
  
  
  
  H3K27 dimethylation was 50-60% lower at 8-10 and 20 wk postpartum in women with GDM who developed type 2 diabetes, compared with nondiabetic women. H3K4 dimethylation was 75% lower at 8-10 wk postpartum in women with GDM who subsequently developed type 2 diabetes compared with women who had GDM who did not.
  
  
  
  The percentage of dimethylation of histones H3K27 and H3K4 varied with diabetic state and has the potential as a predictive tool to identify women who will convert from GDM to type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: Agnes A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Michalczyk
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Janus
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ackland
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asproloupos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (A.A.M., M.L.A.), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre (J.A.D., D.A.), Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3125; University of Melbourne (E.D.J.) Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia 3021; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (J.D.B.), Singapore, 308232; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (P.R.E.), Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3168; and Department of Health & Human Services (M.J.A.), Victoria, Australia 3000.
authors.forename: M Leigh
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ackland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019175:DNA Methylation; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D006657:Histones