Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40292473›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Genome-Wide Impact of Folic Acid on DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Lupus Adipocytes: An In Vitro Study on Obesity.

Leticia L Souza, Jhulia C N L da Mota, Lucas M Carvalho, Amanda A Ribeiro, Cesar A Caponi, Marcela A S Pinhel, Nicolas Costa-Fraga, Angel Diaz-Lagares, Andrea G Izquierdo, Carla B Nonino and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. International journal of molecular medicine · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Leticia L SouzaApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil.
Jhulia C N L da MotaApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-9095-4868
Lucas M CarvalhoApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0003-1633-1405
Amanda A RibeiroApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-8915-9357
Cesar A CaponiHospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil.
Marcela A S PinhelDepartment of Molecular Biology, Sao Jose do Rio Preto Medical School, Sao Jose do Rio Preto 15090-000, Brazil.
Nicolas Costa-FragaEpigenomics Unit, Cancer Epigenomics, Translational Medical Oncology Group (ONCOMET), Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS/SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Angel Diaz-LagaresEpigenomics Unit, Cancer Epigenomics, Translational Medical Oncology Group (ONCOMET), Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS/SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Andrea G IzquierdoEpigenomics in Endocrinology and Nutrition Group, Epigenomics Unit, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS/SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0846-8834
Carla B NoninoDepartment of Health Sciences, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, Brazil.
Ana B CrujeirasEpigenomics in Endocrinology and Nutrition Group, Epigenomics Unit, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS/SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4392-0301
Carolina F NicolettiApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil.

Funding

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP #2020/01893-2, #2020/15126-3, #2022/09301-2
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis in vitro study aimed to investigate the impact of folic acid on DNA methylation and gene expression in adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a focus on the influence of obesity on these epigenetic changes.

methodsTissue biopsies were collected from patients with normal weight (NW) and obesity (OBS). Adipocytes were isolated via enzymatic digestion and density separation. Each group was divided into control (standard medium) and folic acid treatment (2 mg/24 h for 48 h) conditions. After treatment, DNA methylation levels were analyzed using the Infinium Methylation EPIC v2.0 Kit, and gene expression analyses were performed by RT-qPCR. A pathway enrichment analysis was conducted using the KEGG database for functional insight.

resultsFolic acid induced differential methylation at 755 CpG sites in NW adipocytes, which were associated with immune regulation, including MAPK signaling. Also, OBS adipocytes showed methylation changes at 92 CpG sites, affecting pathways related to metabolic regulation, such as cAMP signaling.

conclusionsFolic acid treatment exerts distinct epigenetic and gene expression effects in adipocytes of SLE patients, modulated by obesity status. This weight-dependent response, marked by changes in pathways relevant to immune and metabolic function, highlights the need for further investigation into how nutrient-based interventions might support SLE management. From a clinical perspective, this study underscores the potential of targeted nutrient-based interventions to address immunometabolic dysfunctions in SLE patients. Further research could explore folic acid supplementation as a complementary approach to personalized treatment strategies, particularly for patients with obesity.

Indexed as

AdipocytesDNA MethylationFolic AcidGene ExpressionLupus Erythematosus, SystemicObesityAdultCpG IslandsEpigenesis, GeneticFemaleGene Expression RegulationHumansLeptinMaleMiddle AgedSubcutaneous FatFolic AcidLeptinadipocytesepigeneticsfolic acidgene expressionimmune modulationin vitroobesitysystemic lupus erythematosus

Identifiers

PMID40292473
PMCPMC11944643

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.