Conclusions
The present study generates a genome-wide histone acetylation profile specific to CD4+ T lymphocytes in type 1 diabetes patients who are glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-positive, which is instrumental in improving our understanding of the epigenetic involvement in autoimmune diabetes.
Methods
A total of 12 patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes who were glutamate decarboxylase antibody-positive were enrolled, and 12 healthy individuals were recruited as controls. The global histone H3 acetylation level of CD4+ T lymphocytes from peripheral blood was detected by western blot, with chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays to characterize the promoter acetylation profile. Furthermore, we validated the
Results
Elevated global histone H3 acetylation level was observed in type 1 diabetes patients, with 607 differentially acetylated genes identified between type 1 diabetes patients and controls by chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays. The hyperacetylated genes were enriched in biological processes involved in immune cell activation and inflammatory response. Gene-specific assessments showed that increased transcription of inducible T-cell costimulator was in concordance with the elevated acetylation in its gene promoter, along with positive correlation with glutamate decarboxylase antibody titer in type 1 diabetes patients. Conclusions: The present study generates a genome-wide histone acetylation profile specific to CD4+ T lymphocytes in type 1 diabetes patients who are glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-positive, which is instrumental in improving our understanding of the epigenetic involvement in autoimmune diabetes.