Research Article: NR3C1 gene methylation and its association with metabolic syndrome in adults
Abstract:
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex, multifactorial, systemic disease characterized by the coexistence of metabolic abnormalities and is clinically defined by the presence of at least three important risk factors: excess abdominal fat, a low serum concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high serum triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and high serum glucose levels. Understanding the role of epigenetics in MetS remains challenging because of the complexity of its multifactorial mechanisms. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with MetS and their association with methylation in the nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1) gene.
This cross-sectional study included 353 volunteers who were patients of the primary care service of the Brazilian Public Health System. Socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and health conditions were assessed, along with anthropometric measurements, blood pressure readings, and the collection of blood samples for biochemical and molecular analyses. The methylation levels of the promoter region (1F) of the NR3C1 gene were specifically analyzed via DNA pyrosequencing.
The prevalence of MetS was 40.5% in the present study, and factors associated with MetS in the multivariate Poisson regression were age, excess body fat, serum v ery low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels, and methylation at C p Gs 40 and 46 of the NR3C1 gene.
In summary, these findings demonstrate a site-specific association between NR3C1 DNA methylation and MetS and highlight a molecular profile that coexists with established clinical risk factors. These results suggest a potential epigenetic role of the NR3C1 gene in MetS, contributing to a better understanding of its etiology.
Introduction:
Most modern lifestyles are based on the consumption of a high-calorie diet characterized by excessive intake of carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods ( 1 ). This lifestyle change is relatively new and is closely associated with the emergence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, probably as a result of environmental pressure and the need for metabolic adaptation to a high-calorie diet ( 2 ). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex, multifactorial,…
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