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naica® Droplet Chip Digital PCR System Accurately Quantifies DNA Methylation Levels of Insulin-Encoding Genes
In the past few decades, the incidence of diabetes has increased significantly worldwide. In addition to unhealthy lifestyles, environmental pollutants are considered risk factors for the development of diabetes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of organic compounds containing 2-7 aromatic rings, which are widely produced by natural and human activities. Epidemiological studies have shown that PAHs levels are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults and children.
Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University published an article titled "Prenatal exposure to a mixture of PAHs causes the dysfunction of islet cells in adult male mice: Association with type 1 diabetes mellitus" in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. The article used the naica® droplet chip digital PCR system to quantify the DNA methylation level of the insulin encoding gene, revealing the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to a mixture of PAHs on the function of islet cells in adult male mice.
Application highlights:
▶ Quantification of promoter methylation levels of insulin-encoding genes using the naica® microdroplet chip digital PCR system.
▶ Methylation levels of the promoter of insulin-encoding genes were significantly increased in mice prenatally exposed to 500µg/kg PAHs.
▶ Prenatal exposure to PAHs may promote the development of type 1 diabetes.
The authors conducted experiments using a mixture of 8 PAHs to investigate the effects of prenatal PAHs on islet cell function and quality in adulthood, while attempting to elucidate the environmental causes of type 1 diabetes. They isolated islets from adult male mice and analyzed promoter DNA methylation levels of insulin-encoding genes.
Research results:
▲Figure 1. Effects of prenatal exposure to PAHs on methylation levels of insulin-encoding genes in adult male mice. (A) Representative one-dimensional graph of digital PCR results. (B) Methylation levels of insulin-encoding gene promoter. (Three dams per treatment, one male offspring per dam).
In this study, DNA methylation levels in the promoter of insulin-encoding genes in pancreatic islets of mice exposed to 500µg/kg PAHs in utero were significantly increased, while transcription of insulin-encoding genes was significantly downregulated.
▲Figure 2. Effects of different PAHs concentrations on transcription levels of insulin-encoding genes
Original link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322005358
Journal introduction:
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety was founded in 1977 and is affiliated with Elsevier Publishing Group. It is a multidisciplinary cross-disciplinary journal that mainly studies the exposure and effects of environmental pollution on organisms, including human health. The latest impact factor is 7.129.
naica® six-channel digital PCR system
The naica® six-channel digital PCR system from Stilla Technologies of France is based on the Crystal droplet chip digital PCR technology. It automates droplet generation and amplification. Each sample well can detect 6 fluorescent channels, intelligently identify droplets and perform quality control. The absolute copy number concentration of at least 6 target genes can be obtained within 3 hours.
