Epigenetics and Diabetes: Current and Perspective

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions throughout the world. Increasing evidence suggests that complex interactions between genes and the environment might play a major role in the pathogenesis of this mutlifactoriel disease and its complications, and this might be a result of the involvement of epigenetic factors. Despite the fact that genetic susceptibility and environmental factors have been implicated as key contributors to type1 diabetes (TD1) risk, it is not sufficient to explain the increased incidence of T1D in the world. Epigenetics may explain, at least in part, these phenomena. Recent studies show that epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation and histone modification, may affect the susceptibility for Type 2 diabetes (TD2) and the progression of theirs complications. In this review, we present recent progress in epigenetics mechanisms involved in diabetes development and its most commons complications, and the new approaches of epigenetic modifications as potential new treatment targets in diabetes.