Cited by 33Epigenetics and DNA MethylationNutrition, Genetics, and DiseaseGenetic Associations and Epidemiology

Dopamine gene methylation patterns are associated with obesity markers and carbohydrate intake

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Ramos‐Lopez, Omar, Riezu‐Boj, Jose I., Milagro, Fermin I., Martinez, J. Alfredo, MENA Project·2018·Brain and Behavior

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter that regulates the rewarding and motivational processes underlying food intake and eating behaviors. This study hypothesized associations of DNA methylation signatures at genes modulating DA signaling with obesity features, metabolic profiles, and dietary intake. METHODS: An adult population within the Methyl Epigenome Network Association project was included (n = 473). DNA methylation levels in white blood cells were measured by microarray (450K). Differentially methylated genes were mapped within the dopaminergic synapse pathway using the KEGG reference database (map04728). Subsequently, network enrichment analyses were run in the pathDIP portal. Associations of methylation patterns with anthropometric markers of general (BMI) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference), the blood metabolic profile, and daily dietary intakes were screened. RESULTS: After applying a correction for multiple comparisons, 12 CpG sites were strongly associated (p < 0.0001) with BMI: cg03489495 (ITPR3), cg22851378 (PPP2R2D), cg04021127 (PPP2R2D), cg22441882 (SLC18A1), cg03045635 (DRD5), cg23341970 (ITPR2), cg13051970 (DDC), cg08943004 (SLC6A3), cg20557710 (CACNA1C), cg24085522 (GNAL), cg16846691 (ITPR2), and cg09691393 (SLC6A3). Moreover, average methylation levels of these genes differed according to the presence or absence of abdominal obesity. Pathway analyses revealed a statistically significant contribution of the aforementioned genes to dopaminergic synapse transmission (p = 4.78E-08). Furthermore, SLC18A1 and SLC6A3 gene methylation signatures correlated with total energy (p < 0.001) and carbohydrate (p < 0.001) intakes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation reveal that methylation status on DA signaling genes may underlie epigenetic mechanisms contributing to carbohydrate and calorie consumption and fat deposition.

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Authors
Ramos‐Lopez, O., Riezu‐Boj, J. I., Milagro, F. I., Martinez, J. A., & MENA Project
Affiliations
  • Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology Center for Nutrition Research University of Navarra Pamplona Spain
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
Venue
Brain and Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-07-11
Volume
8
Issue
8
Pages
e01017-e01017
ISSN
  • 2157-9032 (ISSN-L)
  • 2162-3279
OpenAlex
W2842849020
Cited by
33
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain and Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deposito Adademico Digital Universidad De Navarra (University of Navarra) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2013‐45554‐R)
  • Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (444175, PNPC 000091)
  • Universidad de Navarra (LE/97)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Keywords
dopamine signaling, DNA methylation, obesity, abdominal obesity, body mass index, carbohydrate intake, energy intake, dopamine transporter, DRD5, ITPR2, CACNA1C
MeSH terms
Adult, Anthropometry, Energy Intake, Dopamine, Eating, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Signal Transduction, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins

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