Epigenetic mechanisms may underlie the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Because
the kidney is a heterogeneous organ with different cell types, we investigated DNA
methylation status of the kidney in a cell type–specific manner. We first identified genes
specifically demethylated in the normal proximal tubules obtained from control db/m mice,
and next delineated the candidate disease-modifying genes bearing aberrant DNA
methylation induced by diabetes using db/db mice. Genes involved in glucose metabolism …