Development of type 2 diabetes following intrauterine growth retardation in rats is associated with progressive epigenetic silencing of Pdx1
Jun H. Park, … , Robert D. Nicholls, Rebecca A. Simmons
Jun H. Park, … , Robert D. Nicholls, Rebecca A. Simmons
Published May 8, 2008
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2008;118(6):2316-2324. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI33655.
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Research Article Metabolism

Development of type 2 diabetes following intrauterine growth retardation in rats is associated with progressive epigenetic silencing of Pdx1

Abstract

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has been linked to the onset of diseases in adulthood, including type 2 diabetes, and has been proposed to result from altered gene regulation patterns due to epigenetic modifications of developmental genes. To determine whether epigenetic modifications may play a role in the development of adult diabetes following IUGR, we used a rodent model of IUGR that expresses lower levels of Pdx1, a pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 transcription factor critical for β cell function and development, which develops diabetes in adulthood. We found that expression of Pdx1 was permanently reduced in IUGR β cells and underwent epigenetic modifications throughout development. The fetal IUGR state was characterized by loss of USF-1 binding at the proximal promoter of Pdx1, recruitment of the histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and the corepressor Sin3A, and deacetylation of histones H3 and H4. Following birth, histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) was demethylated and histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) was methylated. During the neonatal period, these epigenetic changes and the reduction in Pdx1 expression could be reversed by HDAC inhibition. After the onset of diabetes in adulthood, the CpG island in the proximal promoter was methylated, resulting in permanent silencing of the Pdx1 locus. These results provide insight into the development of type 2 diabetes following IUGR and we believe they are the first to describe the ontogeny of chromatin remodeling in vivo from the fetus to the onset of disease in adulthood.

Authors

Jun H. Park, Doris A. Stoffers, Robert D. Nicholls, Rebecca A. Simmons

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Figure 4

USF-1 in IUGR and control islets.

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USF-1 in IUGR and control islets. (A) ChIP analysis of cross-linked chro...
(A) ChIP analysis of cross-linked chromatin from islets of IUGR and control animals at fetal day 21, 2 weeks, and 6 months of age IP with antibody to USF-1. Input DNA represents PCR products without prior IP. The IgG IP showed negligible PCR product, indicating little or no IP in the absence of primary antibody. The relative amount of USF-1 bound Pdx1 promoter was measured by Q-PCR and normalized to input DNA. Data are represented as percent of control values. n = 3 experiments, data are ± SEM; *P < 0.05 versus controls. (B) Western blot and densitometric analyses of islets isolated from IUGR and control rats at fetal day 21, 2 weeks, and 6 months of age. Blots were probed with anti–USF-1 and stripped and probed with anti-actin as a control. Data are ± SEM.