Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder that can affect multiple organs through an imbalance between insulin secretion and glucose utilization at the cellular level. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or insulin-independent diabetes is characterized by low tissue sensitivity to insulin, elevated fasting, and postprandial plasma glucose, glucose intolerance, insufficient insulin secretion, and obesity.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a broad class of chemicals such as organophosphate pesticides and chemicals used in various industries, including plastics and plasticizers, which are present in the environment and continuously in use in daily life. There is growing evidence that EDCs are a serious threat to human health and can contribute to various ailments such as diabetes.
It is also evident that such environmental toxicants can exert tremendous effects on the epigenetic landscape of the affected organisms and, in this way, play a significant role in adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Changes in epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, can induce changes in gene transcription, leading to long-term physiological changes or even transgenerational inheritance. As such, epigenetic marks present highly promising tools for the development of sensitive and predictive biomarkers of environmental exposure.
It has been proposed that inheritances, whether genetic or epigenetic, may be more intricate than previously believed. It is demonstrated that DNA polymorphisms can cause specific genomic areas to be more or less accessible to epigenetic marks, demonstrating that changes in the DNA sequence can have an impact on epigenetic alterations. In addition, some environmental elements, including exposure to toxins, as well as altered food, stress, and physical activity, as is often the case in the development of T2DM, can alter epigenetic states and ultimately contribute to changes in the expression of genes.
The focus of this Research Topic is to further explore the effects of EDCs and environmental toxicants on epigenetic marks, specifically as they pertain to diabetes. We welcome work studying both invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms stressed with pollutants in their natural habitats as well as in controlled laboratory setups. Original research articles and reviews exploring the effects of pollutants on epigenetic marks, as well as their links to gene expression and phenotypic traits, in connection with diabetes are highly welcomed. Articles defining all aspects of epigenetic inheritance, including intergenerational, multigenerational, and transgenerational effects, are of particular significance.
Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder that can affect multiple organs through an imbalance between insulin secretion and glucose utilization at the cellular level. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or insulin-independent diabetes is characterized by low tissue sensitivity to insulin, elevated fasting, and postprandial plasma glucose, glucose intolerance, insufficient insulin secretion, and obesity.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a broad class of chemicals such as organophosphate pesticides and chemicals used in various industries, including plastics and plasticizers, which are present in the environment and continuously in use in daily life. There is growing evidence that EDCs are a serious threat to human health and can contribute to various ailments such as diabetes.
It is also evident that such environmental toxicants can exert tremendous effects on the epigenetic landscape of the affected organisms and, in this way, play a significant role in adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Changes in epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, can induce changes in gene transcription, leading to long-term physiological changes or even transgenerational inheritance. As such, epigenetic marks present highly promising tools for the development of sensitive and predictive biomarkers of environmental exposure.
It has been proposed that inheritances, whether genetic or epigenetic, may be more intricate than previously believed. It is demonstrated that DNA polymorphisms can cause specific genomic areas to be more or less accessible to epigenetic marks, demonstrating that changes in the DNA sequence can have an impact on epigenetic alterations. In addition, some environmental elements, including exposure to toxins, as well as altered food, stress, and physical activity, as is often the case in the development of T2DM, can alter epigenetic states and ultimately contribute to changes in the expression of genes.
The focus of this Research Topic is to further explore the effects of EDCs and environmental toxicants on epigenetic marks, specifically as they pertain to diabetes. We welcome work studying both invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms stressed with pollutants in their natural habitats as well as in controlled laboratory setups. Original research articles and reviews exploring the effects of pollutants on epigenetic marks, as well as their links to gene expression and phenotypic traits, in connection with diabetes are highly welcomed. Articles defining all aspects of epigenetic inheritance, including intergenerational, multigenerational, and transgenerational effects, are of particular significance.
