Methylation Characteristics of Perivisceral Fat Gene in Obese Rats with Phlegm-dampness Syndrome and the Effect of Wen Dan Decoction

Objective To observe the characteristics of gene methylation in obese rats with phlegm-dampness syndrome induced by the high-fat diet, and to study the effect of Wen Dan Decoction on gene methylation after the intervention.

Methods Methylation sites of genes were detected by the MeDIP-seq method. Bioinformatics method was used to analyze the gene methylation characteristics of obesity with phlegm-dampness syndrome and the effect of Wen Dan Decoction.

Results (1) There were 3 242 methylation differential loci in diet-induced obesity with phlegm-dampness syndrome, of which 1 243 were down-regulated and 1 999 were up-regulated, involving 1 579 differential genes. GO analysis showed that " offactory receptor activity” and others were enriched. The possible signal pathways involved were " Olfactory transduction” " Tuberculosis” " Systemic lupus erythematosus” and " Ribosome”. (2) After the intervention of Wen Dan Decoction in obesity with phlegm-dampness syndrome, 4 046 different methylation loci were obtained, including 1 067 down-regulated loci and 2 979 up-regulated loci, involving 2 068 genes. GO analysis showed that "offactory receptor activity" and others were enriched. These genes involved seven signaling pathways, such as " Metabolic pathways”. (3) Between diet-induced obesity with phlegm-dampness syndrome and Wen Dan Decoction intervening obesity with the phlegm-dampness syndrome, 582 common genes of methylation differential genes were obtained. After the intervention of Wen Dan Decoction, the number of GO enrichment items was more than that of obesity with phlegm-dampness syndrome, and even the same GO enrichment items involved more genes.

Conclusions The phlegm-dampness syndrome of obesity-induced by diet had the characteristics of gene methylation changes, and the intervention of Wen Dan Decoction could also affect the status of gene methylation. The genes affected by Wen Dan Decoction were closely related to the methylation gene of phlegm-dampness syndrome of obesity-induced by diet but covered a wider range.