Bariatric surgery induces hypomethylation of genes related to type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) is a surgical intervention known to induce substantial weight loss and significant long-lasting metabolic improvements including a decrease in insulin resistance (IR) and resolution of type 2diabetes(T2D). The specific mechanisms by which metabolic improvements occur after BPD-DS are still not fully elucidated and the impact of BPD-DS on gene methylation profiles has not been studied. To gain understanding of epigenetic factors that may predispose to metabolic improvements after weight loss surgery, we characterized the methylation signature of genes associated to T2D and IR after BPD-DS. Most of the genes involved in T2D and IR pathways exhibited significant differences in methylation levels after BPD-DS compared to a pre-surgery control group. The majority of these loci were significantly hypomethylated, suggesting an effect of bariatric surgery on the epigenetic signature of genes encoding proteins involved in glucose homeostasis