Aims/hypothesis: DNA methylation has been shown to be associated with kidney function and diabetic kidney disease (DKD), but prospective studies are scarce. Therefore, we conducted epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) on early- and late-stage DKD progression using DNA methylation data obtained by analysing baseline blood samples from participants in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study type 1 diabetes cohort.
Methods: We included 403 individuals with normal AER (early-stage progression group) and 372 individuals with severe albuminuria (late-stage progression group), and followed up DKD progression, defined as a decrease in eGFR to <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the early-stage progression group, and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the late-stage group. Replication was conducted in two type 1 diabetes cohorts in addition to publicly available EWAS summary statistics from diabetes and general population cohorts. Significant loci were further characterised by integration with genetic and proteomic data.
Results: We identified 11 methylation sites associated with DKD progression (p<9.4 × 10-8). Methylation at cg01730944 near the podocyte-specific gene CDKN1C and three other CpGs associated with early-stage DKD progression were independent of baseline eGFR, whereas late-stage progression CpGs were strongly associated with eGFR. The identified lead ESKD risk locus cg17944885 (chr19p13.2, p=2.6 × 10-17) and several novel methylation sites associated with late-stage DKD progression were supported by the results of previous studies. Proteomic analysis of cis proteins identified potential target genes for two CpGs: cg14999724 methylation was associated with PRG3 and PRG2, and cg12272104 was associated with BSG, FSTL3 and PALM. Furthermore, UK Biobank data show associations between these proteins and severe kidney endpoints. Finally, survival models that included methylation markers in addition to clinical risk factors significantly improved the identification of individuals at risk of early-stage DKD progression.
Conclusions/interpretation: The current study detected 11 loci associated with DKD progression, identifying methylation changes predictive of early-stage DKD progression in type 1 diabetes for the first time. Future research is needed to establish prognostic DNA methylation markers for DKD progression.
Aims/hypothesis: In people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) can induce remission of diabetes. While RYGB has been reported to improve beta cell function in individuals with type 2 diabetes, it is unclear whether this is accompanied by changes in beta cell mass. In this explorative proof-of-concept study, we compared beta cell mass, measured by [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, between individuals achieving remission of type 2 diabetes following RYGB and those not achieving remission.
Methods: Individuals with (n=8) and without (n=9) remission of type 2 diabetes up to 4 years after RYGB were injected with 100 ± 5.6 MBq of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 to quantify beta cell mass using PET/CT imaging. Beta cell function was determined by the AUC for C-peptide and the ratio between the AUC for C-peptide and AUC for glucose obtained from a combined arginine stimulation test (ARGT) and OGTT. Acquired variables are expressed as mean ± SD or median (IQR) based on normality.
Results: Individuals with remission of type 2 diabetes had a shorter diabetes duration than those without remission. After RYGB, beta cell function was higher in individuals with remission of type 2 diabetes than individuals without remission, based on both ARGTs (AUCC-peptide/fasting glucose 1.1 ± 0.41 vs 0.32 ± 0.16 nmol × min/mmol, p=0.001) and OGTTs (AUCC-peptide:AUCglucose 0.15 [0.11-0.24] vs 0.032 [0.023-0.054], p=0.005). In contrast, beta cell mass did not differ between individuals with or without remission of type 2 diabetes (3.6 [3.4-5.4] vs 3.8 [1.9-4.5] kBq/MBq, p=0.87) and did not correlate with beta cell function or body weight parameters. HOMA2-%B, also representing beta cell function, was better in the remission group and significantly improved in these individuals after RYGB, whereas it remained unchanged in non-remitters.
Conclusions/interpretation: Individuals with remission of type 2 diabetes after RYGB have better beta cell function than those not achieving remission, but the groups did not differ with respect to beta cell mass. Our preliminary data argue against a stimulating effect of RYGB on beta cell mass, although revival of non-functional (so-called dormant) beta cells is a possible explanation for remission.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02542059.

