Title of article :
Effects of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on DNA Methylation and the Expression of DNMT3b and PPARα Genes in Rats
Author/Authors :
Maktoobian Baharanchi, Ehsan Department of Biochemistry - Faculty of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , Moradi Sarabi, Mostafa Department of Biochemistry - Faculty of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , Naghibalhossaini, Fakhraddin Department of Biochemistry - Faculty of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Previous studies have suggested a protective role for Polyunsaturated
Fatty Acids (PUFA) against cancer, cardiovascular, and other diseases. To provide
new insights into the in vivo effects of PUFA on gene expression, the effects of dietary
PUFA on DNMT3b and PPARα gene expression and global DNA methylation were
investigated in selected rat tissues.
Methods: Thirty sprague-dawley rats were allotted into 3 dietary groups of ten animals
each, received experimental diets containing PUFAs every day by gavages for 12
weeks as follows: control group fed a normal diet and water; n-3 PUFAs group received
300 mg/kg/day n-3 PUFAs supplementation; mixed-PUFAs group received
300 mg/kg/day of a mixture of n-3, -6, -9 PUFAs supplementations. The expressions of
DNMT3b and PPARα genes were quantitated using real-time RT-PCR. The genomewide
5-methylcytosine contents in rat tissues were determined by ELISA method.
Results: The average expression of the DNMT3b mRNA was 50% lower in the colon
and liver of rats fed the n-3- or mixed-PUFAs supplemented diet than control group
(p=0.00). However, PPARα expression was significantly upregulated both in the
colon and liver of PUFAs-supplemented rats (p<0.001). No significant difference was
observed in the blood, colon, and liver DNA methylation levels between PUFAssupplemented
and control animals.
Conclusion: The results indicate that dietary PUFAs could modulate the expressions of
PPARα and DNMT3b genes in various rat tissues. The findings of this study provide
additional insights into the in vivo mechanism of PUFA-mediated regulation of gene
expression and could provide an opportunity to develop personalized diets for related
disease control.
Keywords :
Fatty acids omega-3 , Dietary supplement regulation , Gene expression , DNA methylation
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics