Role of Epigenetic Modification in Metabolic Memory of Diabetic Vascular Disease

Long-term hyperglycemia causes damages to various organs in diabetic patients, which will persist despite of restoration of normal glucose level by intensive glycaemic control. The phenomenon that early glycemic environment is remembered in the target cells is termed "metabolic memory". Although its molecular mechanisms still remain unclear, recent studies have showed that "metabolic memory" could be attributed to epigenetic modification. In this review, the epigenetic mechanisms of metabolic memory in diabetic macrovascular and microvascular disease were introduced from the aspects of DNA methylation, post-transcriptional modification of histone and non-coding miRNA regulation, and the possible therapeutic strategies were highlighted, providing guidance for alleviating diabetic vascular disease caused by metabolic memory.