Diabetes mellitus currently affects 285 million individuals and this is projected to increase to 439 million by 2030. Evidence from both the laboratory and large scale clinical trials has revealed that diabetic complications progress unimpeded via the phenomenon of metabolic memory even when glycemic control is pharmaceutically achieved. The epigenome is comprised of all chromatin modifications including DNA methylation and histone modifications and epigenetic processes allow cells and organisms to quickly respond to changing environmental stimuli. These processes not only allow for quick adaptation but also confer the ability of the cell to """"""""memorize"""""""" these encounters. Investigation into the role of the epigenome in metabolic memory is recent and has been limited to the examination of specific histone modifications;however, the role of DNA methylation in metabolic memory has not been reported. Our long term objective is to decipher the molecular mechanisms of metabolic memory with a rationale that these studies will lead to the identification and development of novel therapeutic targets to control the progression of diabetic complications. To this end, we have developed an adult zebrafish model of type I diabetes mellitus and have characterized this model to show that diabetic zebrafish not only display the known secondary complications including impaired epidermal wound healing, but in addition, exhibit impaired limb regeneration (caudal fin regeneration). In our current studies, we demonstrate that hyperglycemic zebrafish can revert back to normal glycemia within 2 weeks of drug removal due to regeneration of endogenous pancreatic beta cells resulting in a physiologically normal glycemic state. However, in contrast, body wall epidermal wound healing and limb regeneration in these fish remains impaired to the same extent as in the acute diabetic state indicating these complications are persistent and are susceptible to metabolic memory. Moreover, examination of daughter tissue that was regenerated in the post hyperglycemia state was similarly reduced revealing the heritable transmission of the metabolic memory phenomenon. This data has led us to hypothesize that: hyperglycemia induces aberrant DNA methylation that contributes to metabolic memory. This hypothesis will be tested using the following two Specific Aims : 1. Determination of DNA methylation differences in the normal, acute diabetic, and metabolic memory states. and 2: Identification of the time course for hyperglycemia induced DNA methyltransferase and subsequent DNA methylation alterations. The completion of the experiments in this proposal will establish the genomic methylation patterns induced by hyperglycemia and maintained in the metabolic memory state. In the long term, these experiments will provide a foundation for the identification of appropriate targets for new treatments to prevent or reverse diabetic complications.

Public Health Relevance

Metabolic memory is the phenomenon by which diabetic complications persist and progress unimpeded following return to normal glycemia. This proposal focuses on the role that epigenetic DNA methylation plays in the initiation and maintenance of metabolic memory. The proposed studies have a broad range of potential impact for delineation of key hyperglycemia-induced epigenetic events that will assist in the identification of appropriate targets for potential new treatments to prevent or reverse diabetic complications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21DK092721-01
Application #
8165558
Study Section
Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity Study Section (CADO)
Program Officer
Blondel, Olivier
Project Start
2011-08-09
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-09
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$231,750
Indirect Cost
Name
Rosalind Franklin University
Department
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
069501252
City
North Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60064
Leontovich, Alexey A; Intine, Robert V; Sarras Jr, Michael P (2016) Epigenetic Studies Point to DNA Replication/Repair Genes as a Basis for the Heritable Nature of Long Term Complications in Diabetes. J Diabetes Res 2016:2860780
Sarras Jr, Michael P; Leontovich, Alexey A; Intine, Robert V (2015) Use of zebrafish as a model to investigate the role of epigenetics in propagating the secondary complications observed in diabetes mellitus. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 178:3-7
Dhliwayo, Nyembezi; Sarras Jr, Michael P; Luczkowski, Ernest et al. (2014) Parp inhibition prevents ten-eleven translocase enzyme activation and hyperglycemia-induced DNA demethylation. Diabetes 63:3069-76
Sarras Jr, Michael P; Mason, Samantha; McAllister, Geoffrey et al. (2014) Inhibition of poly-ADP ribose polymerase enzyme activity prevents hyperglycemia-induced impairment of angiogenesis during wound healing. Wound Repair Regen 22:666-70
Pisano, Gina C; Mason, Samantha M; Dhliwayo, Nyembezi et al. (2014) An assay for lateral line regeneration in adult zebrafish. J Vis Exp :
Intine, Robert V; Olsen, Ansgar S; Sarras Jr, Michael P (2013) A zebrafish model of diabetes mellitus and metabolic memory. J Vis Exp :e50232
Sarras Jr, Michael P; Leontovich, Alexey A; Olsen, Ansgar S et al. (2013) Impaired tissue regeneration corresponds with altered expression of developmental genes that persists in the metabolic memory state of diabetic zebrafish. Wound Repair Regen 21:320-8
Sarras Jr, Michael P (2012) Components, structure, biogenesis and function of the Hydra extracellular matrix in regeneration, pattern formation and cell differentiation. Int J Dev Biol 56:567-76
Olsen, Ansgar S; Sarras Jr, Michael P; Leontovich, Alexey et al. (2012) Heritable transmission of diabetic metabolic memory in zebrafish correlates with DNA hypomethylation and aberrant gene expression. Diabetes 61:485-91
Intine, Robert V; Sarras Jr, Michael P (2012) Metabolic memory and chronic diabetes complications: potential role for epigenetic mechanisms. Curr Diab Rep 12:551-9