The impact of bariatric surgery on epigenetic modulation of DNA in the NFkB promoter region in adipose tissue of obese patients

• Grant number: 23/14617-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Leandro Pereira de Moura
• Grantee: Diego Gomes de Melo
• Supervisor: Eugenia Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Coimbra (UC), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/14385-8 - Effect of short-term strength exercise on the epigenetic regulation of NFkB in mesenteric adipose tissue of obese mice., BP.DR

Abstract

Obesity is one of the main factors for the worsening of health conditions in the world population. Due to excess adipose tissue, there is greater activity in the TLR-4 pathway and consequent epigenetic modulation in the specific region of DNA, increasing the synthesis of NFºB, triggering an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of specific microRNAs (miR). This scenario perpetuates insulin resistance. In this context, laparoscopic bariatric surgery can be seen as an important surgical intervention for reducing the gastrointestinal tract and consequently reducing the absorption of nutrients. Therefore, promoting weight reduction by reducing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue (AT). However, it is still unknown whether weight loss caused by laparoscopic bariatric surgery is capable of regulating the NFkB epigenetic pathway and the expression of miR130-b in the adipose tissue of obese patients. For this, 42 obese patients (24 women and 12 men; age: 45 ± 11.4 years) were recruited for the experiment, with 8 individuals evaluated at T1 + T2 (six months after surgery) and 6 individuals evaluated only at T2. (six months post surgery). At the end of this study, we hope to understand whether laparoscopic bariatric surgery is efficient in increasing DNA methylation in the specific NFkB transcription residue, reducing its pro-inflammatory effects in AT. If our hypothesis is confirmed, it will be possible to understand the effects of bariatric surgery in the modulation of epigenetic factors by promoting methylation in the NFkB residue, increasing the metabolic health of obese individuals and reducing the development of chronic diseases associated with obesity.