DNA methylation in adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome

Epigenetics is the study of heritable phenotype changes that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence with the processes including DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA-associated silencing [1,2]. Castellano-Castillo and colleagues have analysed the impact of metabolic syndrome on the global DNA methylation pattern and the DNA methylation of several genes in visceral adipose tissue [3]. They concluded that DNA methylation in adipose tissue of these patients is related to the aetiology of the syndrome. The role of DNA methylation in genes for adipogenesis, inflammation and lipid metabolism provides logical explanations for these changes in the development and progression of metabolic syndrome [3]