Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2018 Apr;29(2):116-124.
doi: 10.1097/MOL.0000000000000491.

DNA methylation in human lipid metabolism and related diseases

Kirstin Mittelstraß, Melanie Waldenberger
Review

DNA methylation in human lipid metabolism and related diseases

Kirstin Mittelstraß et al. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: It is becoming increasingly evident that epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, play a role in the regulation of blood lipid levels and lipid metabolism-linked phenotypes and diseases.

Recent findings: Recent genome-wide methylation and candidate gene studies of blood lipids have highlighted several robustly replicated methylation markers across different ethnicities. Furthermore, many of these lipid-related CpG sites associated with blood lipids are also linked to lipid-related phenotypes and diseases. Integrating epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) data with other layers of molecular data such as genetics or the transcriptome, accompanied by relevant statistical methods (e.g. Mendelian randomization), provides evidence for causal relationships. Recent data suggest that epigenetic changes can be consequences rather than causes of dyslipidemia. There is sparse information on many lipid classes and disorders of lipid metabolism, and also on the interplay of DNA methylation with other epigenetic layers such as histone modifications and regulatory RNAs.

Summary: The current review provides a literature overview of epigenetic modifications in lipid metabolism and other lipid-related phenotypes and diseases focusing on EWAS of DNA methylation from January 2016 to September 2017. Recent studies strongly support the importance of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in lipid metabolism and related diseases for relevant biological insights, reliable biomarkers, and even future therapeutics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Box 1
Box 1
no caption available
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Stitziel NO. Human genetic insights into lipoproteins and risk of cardiometabolic disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 2017; 28:113–119. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wang YC, McPherson K, Marsh T, et al. Health and economic burden of the projected obesity trends in the USA and the UK. Lancet 2011; 378:815–825. - PubMed
    1. Writing Group M, Mozaffarian D, Benjamin EJ, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics – 2016 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2016; 133:e38–e360. - PubMed
    1. Genest JJ, Jr, Martin-Munley SS, McNamara JR, et al. Familial lipoprotein disorders in patients with premature coronary artery disease. Circulation 1992; 85:2025–2033. - PubMed
    1. Willer CJ, Schmidt EM, Sengupta S, et al. Discovery and refinement of loci associated with lipid levels. Nature Genet 2013; 45:1274–1283. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types