PARylation, DNA (De)methylation, and Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes and diabetic complications, autoimmunity and inflammatory diseases, have recently become the focus of epigenetic therapy, since with epigenetic drugs it is possible to reverse aberrant gene expression profiles associated with the disease states. For diabetes, the therapy challenges depend on identifying the most appropriate molecular target and its influence on a relevant gene product. This chapter summarizes the current view on the interplay between ten-eleven translocation (TETs) and the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARPs) family of enzymes in regulating DNA methylation and how this interplay could be targeted to attenuate diabetes. This molecular interchange jigsaw puzzle is emerging as an important focus of research, and we can expect to see further advances in the elucidation of its role in diabetes as well as other pathologies. Moreover, the possibility for designating specific PARP-1 inhibitors as potential “EPI-drugs” for diabetes prevention/attenuation is also discussed. Understanding the epigenetic machinery and the differential roles of its components is essential for the development of targeted epigenetic therapies for diseases.