Effects of obesity, and of weight loss following bariatric surgery, on methylation of DNA from the rectal mucosa and in cell-free DNA from blood
Authors' conclusion
BS reversed LINE1, POMC and LEP methylation in the rectal mucosa of patients with obesity to levels similar to those in individuals without obesity. These findings support current evidence of effects of BS-induced weight loss on reversibility of DNA methylation in other tissues. The DNA methylation changes in the rectal mucosa shows promise as a biomarker for objective assessment of effects of weight loss interventions on risk of cancer and other diseases.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery (BS) and controls without obesity, BOCABS Study
- Participants
- 28 vs 12
- Exposure
- Obesity before vs 6 months after BS, vs controls without obesity
- Obesityn = 28
- Controln = 12reference
- Outcome
- DNA methylation of LEP, IL6, POMC, LINE1, MAPK7 and COX2 in rectal mucosal biopsies and serum cfDNA, by pyrosequencing
- Follow-up
- Before and 6 months after BS
Methodological detailsbefore-and-after, age- and sex-matched controls
- Before-and-after
- Age- and sex-matched controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
DNA methylation · 6 months after BS
- Obesity associated with lower LEP methylation vs controls in rectal mucosa and serum cell-free DNA (cfDNA)
- BS normalised LEP methylation in rectal mucosal DNA but not in cfDNA
- BS decreased methylation of some LINE1 CpG sites in rectal mucosal DNA and cfDNA to levels comparable with controls
- POMC methylation in rectal mucosal DNA normalised at 6 months after BS
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
BMI · pre-surgery to 6 months after BS
- BMI decreased significantly from 41.8 kg/m² pre-surgery to 32.3 kg/m² at 6 months
Original publication
Effects of obesity, and of weight loss following bariatric surgery, on methylation of DNA from the rectal mucosa and in cell-free DNA from blood. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 15 September 2023. doi:10.
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