DNA methylation reshapes the expression of adipokines and adipose factors in white adipose tissues

Meng Yue Fang; Shi Wei Liu; Prasanna R. Kolatkar; Ping Qi; Yue Chen Liu; Fei Sun; Cong Yi Wang

doi:10.1186/s13072-025-00640-3

DNA methylation reshapes the expression of adipokines and adipose factors in white adipose tissues

Meng Yue Fang
, Shi Wei Liu
, Prasanna R. Kolatkar
, Ping Qi
, Yue Chen Liu
, Fei Sun^*
, Cong Yi Wang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

QBRI - Diabetes Research Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The expansion of adipose tissue during obesity results in alterations in the expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors, which control whole-body energy metabolism. Epigenetics refers to the heritable modifications in gene function that arise without changes in DNA sequence and are sculped by environmental factors, lifestyles, and nutritional variables. DNA methylation is a well-characterized epigenetic mechanism, and altered expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors is partly ascribed to alterations in DNA methylation levels or patterns. This review aims to summarize the regulatory effects of DNA methylation on the expression of adipokines and adipose factors, including leptin, adiponectin, cytokines as well as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) under obese conditions. The feasibility of DNA methylation as a biomarker for the prediction and prognosis of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) would be also discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	71
Journal	Epigenetics and Chromatin
Volume	18
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13072-025-00640-3
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Keywords

Adipokines
Adipose factors
Adipose tissue
DNA methylation
Obesity

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10.1186/s13072-025-00640-3

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title = "DNA methylation reshapes the expression of adipokines and adipose factors in white adipose tissues",

abstract = "The expansion of adipose tissue during obesity results in alterations in the expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors, which control whole-body energy metabolism. Epigenetics refers to the heritable modifications in gene function that arise without changes in DNA sequence and are sculped by environmental factors, lifestyles, and nutritional variables. DNA methylation is a well-characterized epigenetic mechanism, and altered expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors is partly ascribed to alterations in DNA methylation levels or patterns. This review aims to summarize the regulatory effects of DNA methylation on the expression of adipokines and adipose factors, including leptin, adiponectin, cytokines as well as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) under obese conditions. The feasibility of DNA methylation as a biomarker for the prediction and prognosis of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) would be also discussed.",

keywords = "Adipokines, Adipose factors, Adipose tissue, DNA methylation, Obesity",

author = "Fang, \{Meng Yue\} and Liu, \{Shi Wei\} and Kolatkar, \{Prasanna R.\} and Ping Qi and Liu, \{Yue Chen\} and Fei Sun and Wang, \{Cong Yi\}",

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doi = "10.1186/s13072-025-00640-3",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "Epigenetics and Chromatin",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - DNA methylation reshapes the expression of adipokines and adipose factors in white adipose tissues

AU - Fang, Meng Yue

AU - Liu, Shi Wei

AU - Kolatkar, Prasanna R.

AU - Qi, Ping

AU - Liu, Yue Chen

AU - Sun, Fei

AU - Wang, Cong Yi

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - The expansion of adipose tissue during obesity results in alterations in the expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors, which control whole-body energy metabolism. Epigenetics refers to the heritable modifications in gene function that arise without changes in DNA sequence and are sculped by environmental factors, lifestyles, and nutritional variables. DNA methylation is a well-characterized epigenetic mechanism, and altered expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors is partly ascribed to alterations in DNA methylation levels or patterns. This review aims to summarize the regulatory effects of DNA methylation on the expression of adipokines and adipose factors, including leptin, adiponectin, cytokines as well as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) under obese conditions. The feasibility of DNA methylation as a biomarker for the prediction and prognosis of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) would be also discussed.

AB - The expansion of adipose tissue during obesity results in alterations in the expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors, which control whole-body energy metabolism. Epigenetics refers to the heritable modifications in gene function that arise without changes in DNA sequence and are sculped by environmental factors, lifestyles, and nutritional variables. DNA methylation is a well-characterized epigenetic mechanism, and altered expression of adipose-derived hormones or factors is partly ascribed to alterations in DNA methylation levels or patterns. This review aims to summarize the regulatory effects of DNA methylation on the expression of adipokines and adipose factors, including leptin, adiponectin, cytokines as well as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) under obese conditions. The feasibility of DNA methylation as a biomarker for the prediction and prognosis of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) would be also discussed.

KW - Adipokines

KW - Adipose factors

KW - Adipose tissue

KW - DNA methylation

KW - Obesity

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021068006

U2 - 10.1186/s13072-025-00640-3

DO - 10.1186/s13072-025-00640-3

M3 - Review article

C2 - 41204250

AN - SCOPUS:105021068006

SN - 1756-8935

VL - 18

JO - Epigenetics and Chromatin

JF - Epigenetics and Chromatin

IS - 1

M1 - 71

ER -

DNA methylation reshapes the expression of adipokines and adipose factors in white adipose tissues

Abstract

Keywords

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