查看文章

Background:

Little is known about epigenetic alterations associated with subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in obesity. Our aim was to study genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression differences in SAT in monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs who are discordant for body mass index (BMI). This design completely matches lean and obese groups for genetic background, age, gender and shared environment.

Methods:

14 We analyzed DNA methylome and gene expression from SAT, together with body composition (magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy) and glucose tolerance test, lipids and C-reactive protein from 26 rare BMI-discordant (intrapair difference in BMI⩾ 3 kg m− 2) MZ twin pairs identified from 10 birth cohorts of young adult Finnish twins.

Results:

We found 17 novel obesity-associated genes that were differentially methylated across the genome between heavy and lean co-twins. Nine of them were …