Individuals Diagnosed with Binge-Eating Disorder Have DNA Hypomethylated Sites in Genes of the Metabolic System: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Binge-eating disorder, recently accepted as a diagnostic category, is differentiated from bulimia nervosa in that the former shows the presence of binge-eating episodes and the absence of compensatory behavior. Epigenetics is a conjunct of mechanisms (like DNA methylation) that regulate gene expression, which are dependent on environmental changes. Analysis of DNA methylation in eating disorders shows that it is reduced. The present study aimed to analyze the genome-wide DNA methylation differences between individuals diagnosed with BED and BN. A total of 46 individuals were analyzed using the Infinium Methylation EPIC array. We found 11 differentially methylated sites between BED- and BN-diagnosed individuals, with genome-wide significance. Most of the associations were found in genes related to metabolic processes (ST3GAL4, PRKAG2, and FRK), which are hypomethylated genes in BED. Cg04781532, located in the body of the PRKAG2 gene (protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 2), was hypomethylated in individuals with BED. Agonists of PRKAG2, which is the subunit of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), are proposed to treat obesity, BED, and BN. The present study contributes important insights into the effect that BED could have on PRKAG2 activation.

Ajitasyon ve Acil Serviste Yönetimi

“…Ancak 2021 Nisan ayında yayınlananbir çalışma, 21 TYB ve 25 BN tanısı alan bireyler arasındaki genom çapında DNA metilasyon farklılıklarını analiz etmiş. Sonuç olarak TYB ve BN'li bireyler arasında genom çapında, önemli 11 farklı DNA metilasyon bölgesi tespit etmişler ayrıca TYB olan olguların metabolik fonksiyonlarla ilgili olan ST3GAL4, PRKAG2 ve FRK genlerinde hipomentilasyona rastlarken BN'li olgularda ise böyle bir sonuç elde etmemişlerdir (65).…”

OXTR DNA methylation differentiates men on the obesity spectrum with and without binge eating disorder

“…Interestingly, two recent studies reported differential levels of DNA methylation in several sites of the OXTR gene in female patients with AN as compared to females remitted from AN and healthy females, and DNA methylation was correlated with markers of AN severity [ 13 , 26 ]. However, only two studies so far investigated epigenetic alterations in patients with binge eating, but the OXTR was not included, and samples were heterogeneous [ 28 , 29 ] and small (< 30 cases) [ 29 ].…”

Association Study among Comethylation Modules, Genetic Polymorphisms and Clinical Features in Mexican Teenagers with Eating Disorders: Preliminary Results

“…In addition, genetic associations between ED and substance use have been described [ 6 ]. Additionally, the genetic-environment relationship in ED has been studied through DNA methylation, reporting perturbations in the methylation levels of some genes ( DRD2 , SLC6A3 , POMC , OXTR , among others) [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]. However, genes do not function alone: on average, each gene is estimated to interact with another four or eight genes, and to be involved with 10 biological functions.…”