This is the blog for GW students taking Human Evolutionary Genetics. This site is for posting interesting tidbits on: the patterns and processes of human genetic variation;human origins and migration; molecular adaptations to environment, lifestyle and disease; ancient and forensic DNA analyses; and genealogical reconstructions.

GWHEG figure

GWHEG figure

Monday, March 16, 2020

The effects of bariatric surgery on DNA methylation Potluck 3/24/20 A. Williams



In this recent study, the researchers use a longitudinal study approach in order to show direct changes in 4857 CpG methylation sites. Among many variables, the researchers looked at methylation before and after 40 patients underwent bariatric surgery and tracked their levels for 12 months afterwards. As their BMI decreased, so did their measure for biological age and epigenetic age acceleration. Of the 4857 CpG sites with methylation changes, 420 were associated with metabolic traits and genes. Two transcription factors were of increased interest due to their correlation with adipocyte development and type 2 diabetes: TCF7L2 and LMO2. The authors stress the clinical importance of these findings and find significant evidence that bariatric surgery will help long term with patients' weight loss and maintenance as well as prevent against metabolic disorders due to the drastic epigenetic changes associated with it.

-Alexis Williams

Fraszczyk et al. Clinical Epigenetics (2020) 12:14
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-019-0790-2

Photo: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2013.03.018

No comments:

Post a Comment