Early life nutrition, epigenetics and programming of later life disease

A single-cell sequence analysis of mouse subcutaneous white adipose tissue reveals dynamic changes during weaning

Adipose tissue development begins in the fetal period, and continues to expand after birth. Dysregulation of adipose tissue during weaning may predispose individuals to lifelong metabolic disorders. However, the developmental remodeling of adipose tissue during weaning remains largely unexplored. Here we comprehensively compare the changes in mouse subcutaneous white adipose tissue from 7 days after birth to 7 days after weaning using single-cell RNA sequencing along with other molecular and histologic assays. We characterize the developmental trajectory of preadipocytes and indicate the commitment of preadipocytes with beige potential during weaning. Meanwhile, we find immune cells unique to weaning period, whose expression of extracellular matrix proteins implies potential regulation on preadipocyte. Finally, the strongest cell-cell interaction during weaning determined by the TGFβ ligand-receptor pairs is between preadipocytes and endotheliocytes. Our results provide a detailed and unbiased cellular landscape and offer insights into the potential regulation of adipose tissue remodeling during weaning.

Interindividual differences of dietary fat-inducible Mest in white adipose tissue of C57BL/6J mice are not heritable

OBJECTIVE

Differences in white adipose tissue (WAT) expression of mesoderm-specific transcript (Mest) in C57BL6/J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) are concomitant with and predictive for the development of obesity. However, the basis for differences in WAT Mest among mice is unknown. This study investigated whether HFD-inducible WAT Mest, as well as susceptibility to obesity, is transmissible from parents to offspring.

METHODS

WAT biopsies of mice fed an HFD for 2 weeks identified parents with low and high WAT Mest for breeding. Obesity phenotypes, WAT Mest, hepatic gene expression, and serum metabolites were determined in offspring fed an HFD for 2 weeks.

RESULTS

Offspring showed no heritability of obesity or WAT Mest phenotypes from parents but did show hepatic and serum metabolite changes consistent with their WAT Mest. Importantly, retired male breeders showed WAT Mest expression congruent with initial WAT biopsies even though HFD exposure occurred early in life.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparity of HFD-induced Mest in mice is not heritable but, rather, is reestablished during each generation and remains fixed from an early age to adulthood. Short-term HFD feeding reveals variation of WAT Mest expression within isogenic mice that is positively associated with the development of obesity.

Sexual dimorphism in thermogenic regulators and metrnl expression in adipose tissue of offspring mice exposed to maternal and postnatal overnutrition

Current study investigated the impact of maternal and postnatal overnutrition on phenotype of adipose, in relation to offspring thermogenesis and sex. Female C57BL/6 J mice were fed with CHOW or high fat diet (HFD) for 2 weeks before mating, throughout gestation and lactation. At weaning, pups were fed to 9 weeks old with CHOW or HFD, which resulted in four groups for each gender--male or female: CHOW-CHOW (CC), CHOW-HFD (CH), HFD-CHOW (HC), HFD-HFD (HH). Maternal and post-weaning HFD enhanced thermogenic factors such as Acox1, Dio2 and Cox8b in iBAT of male and female offspring, but increased SIRT1, PGC-1α and UCP1 only in female. However, Acox1, Dio2 and Cox8b mRNA expression and SIRT1, PGC-1α and UCP1 protein expression were only enhanced upon maternal and post-weaning HFD in sWAT and pWAT of female offspring. Increased metrnl expression in adipose were observed in sex- and depot-specific manner, while enhanced circulating metrnl level was only observed in male offspring undergoing maternal HFD. Palmitic acid changed metrnl expression during preadipocytes differentiation and siRNA-mediated knockdown of metrnl inhibited preadipocyte differentiation. Female offspring were more prone to resist adverse outcomes induced by maternal and post-weaning overnutrition, which probably related to metrnl expression and thermogenesis.

The Associations between Intakes of One-Carbon Metabolism-Related Vitamins and Breast Density among Young Women

BACKGROUND

Folate is the primary methyl donor and B vitamins are cofactors for one-carbon metabolism that maintain DNA integrity and epigenetic signatures implicated in carcinogenesis. Breast tissue is particularly susceptible to stimuli in early life. Only limited data are available on associations of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamin intake during youth and young adulthood with breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer.

METHODS

Over 18 years in the DISC and DISC06 Follow-up Study, diets of 182 young women were assessed by three 24-hour recalls on five occasions at ages 8 to 18 years and once at 25 to 29 years. Multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects regression was used to examine associations of intakes of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamins with MRI-measured percent dense breast volume (%DBV) and absolute dense breast volume (ADBV) at ages 25 to 29 years.

RESULTS

Folate intake in youth was inversely associated with %DBV (Ptrend = 0.006) and ADBV (Ptrend = 0.02). These inverse associations were observed with intake during post-, though not premenarche. In contrast, premenarche vitamin B2 intake was positively associated with ADBV (Ptrend < 0.001). Young adult folate and vitamin B6 intakes were inversely associated with %DBV (all Ptrend ≤ 0.04), whereas vitamins B6 and B12 were inversely associated with ADBV (all Ptrend ≤ 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Among these DISC participants intakes of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamins were associated with breast density. Larger prospective studies among diverse populations are needed to replicate these findings.

IMPACT

Our results suggest the importance of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamin intakes early in life with development of breast density and thereby potentially breast cancer risk later in life.

Unlocking the power of Lactoferrin: Exploring its role in early life and its preventive potential for adult chronic diseases

Nutrition during the early postnatal period exerts a profound impact on both infant development and later-life health. Breast milk, which contains lactoferrin, a dynamic protein, plays a crucial role in the growth of various biological systems and in preventing numerous chronic diseases. Based on the relationship between early infant development and chronic diseases later in life, this paper presents a review of the effects of lactoferrin in early life on neonates intestinal tract, immune system, nervous system, adipocyte development, and early intestinal microflora establishment, as well as the preventive and potential mechanisms of early postnatal lactoferrin against adult allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, cancer, and obesity. Furthermore, we summarized the application status of lactoferrin in the early postnatal period and suggested directions for future research.

Influence of maternal high-fat diet on offspring's locomotor activity during anxiety-related behavioral tests: A systematic review

The aim of this review was to summarize and discuss the impact of a maternal high-fat diet on the locomotor activity of offspring during anxiety-related behavioral tests. A search was performed in the LILACS, Web of Science, SCOPUS and PUMBED databases, using the following inclusion criteria: studies in which rodent dams were submitted to a high-fat diet during gestation and/or lactation and in which the locomotor activity parameters of offspring were evaluated during an anxiety-related test. Twenty-three articles met these criteria and were included. Most studies, 14 out of 23, found that a maternal high-fat diet did not alter offspring locomotor activity. Six articles found that a maternal high-fat diet increased the locomotor activity of offspring, while three found decreased locomotion. This effect may be associated with the initial response to the test and the fact that it was the first day of exposure to the apparatus.

Ageing and disease risk factors: A new paleoepidemiological methodology for understanding disease in the past

OBJECTIVES

To outline a methodology that enables the reconstruction of age-related disease risk in past societies.

MATERIALS

Modern epidemiological evidence considering risk factors for age-related disease is combined with contextual information about an archaeological society of interest.

METHODS

Data gathered is used to create a qualitative population-specific risk model for the disease of interest. To provide a case study, a risk model is constructed for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the Eastern English Bronze Age.

RESULTS

This enables the first rigorous approach to reconstructing age-related disease risk in the past. A risk model shows a high degree of COPD risk in the Eastern English Bronze Age, with a major contribution from indoor airborne pollution and agricultural practices.

SIGNIFICANCE

This represents a significant new approach in human paleopathology, facilitating understanding of the occurrence of a wide variety of diseases in the past, without the need for well-preserved skeletons of identified elderly individuals.

LIMITATIONS

The risk models generated are, of necessity, qualitative rather than quantitative, since we are unable to calculate the size of risk factors in the past with certainty.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

The methodology could be applied to a wide variety of diseases and for many past societies.

Association between maternal diet, smoking, and the placenta MTHFR 677C/T genotype and global placental DNA methylation

INTRODUCTION

The placenta provides nutrients to the fetus, and it has protective effects against harmful substances. Unhealthy maternal diets and toxic agents might increase free radical (FR) production. Elevated FR levels are associated with a high risk of oxidative stress, which may cause DNA damage. DNA might be oxidized in the placenta, occasionally affecting its methylation profile due to 8-hidroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation.

METHODS

This study assessed 130 mothers and their children. The maternal's nutritional patterns were determined using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Information on smoking and alcohol consumption was collected during the medical examination. Data on placental DNA were obtained to determine the MTHFR 677C/T genotype and the proportion of placental DNA methylation (pDNAm).

RESULTS

Consumption of vitamins and folic acid was above 85%. The pDNAm was found to be correlated with gestational age and coffee intake. Mothers with a smoking history had a low pDNAm. Placentas with the TT genotype had a higher but not significant pDNAm. In the placentas with the CC/CT genotype, the pDNAm was positively associated with carbohydrate and biotin intake. However, the TT genotype was negatively associated with folate and vegetable intake.

DISCUSSION

The pDNAm was positively associated with coffee intake, but not with macro-, and micronutrient intake. However, it was negatively associated with cigarette smoking. The placentas with the CC/CT genotype had a lower pDNAm than those with the TT genotype. In the placentas with the CC/CT or TT genotype, methylation was positively, and negatively associated with micro- or macronutrients, respectively.

The impact of DNA methylation as a factor of Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes (APBOs): a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation is one of the epigenetic modifications that has gained a lot of interest as a factor influencing fetal programming and as a biomarker for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes (APBOs). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that DNA methylation can result in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes (APBOs) including miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), low birth weight (LBW), sepsis, and preterm birth (PTB), which may later result in diseases in adulthood. However, the mechanism by which DNA methylation influences these APBOs remains unclear. The systematic review will assess the association between global and gene-specific DNA methylation with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHOD

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 checklist will be followed when conducting this systematic review. To develop the search strategy the PI(E)COS (population, intervention/exposure, comparator/control, outcome, and study designs) framework will be followed. Thus far, the research team has retrieved 4721 from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Sciences, and MEDLINE. Out of these, 584 studies have been screened for eligibility, and approximately 124 studies meet the inclusion criteria. Pending the search results identified from the grey literature. For identification of unpublished studies in journals indexed in electronic databases, Google Scholar will be used. I.M and A.S will separately extract data from the articles and screen them, if there are any disagreements between I.M and A.S, then the L.M will resolve them. The methodological quality and bias risk of the included studies will be evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skill Programme CASP) checklist. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alpha = 0.10 statistic will be used for assessing statistical heterogeneity between studies. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess and grade the overall quality of extracted data.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required. The systematic review will assess available literature on possible associations between DNA methylation with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes (APBOs) including LBW, IUGR, miscarriage, sepsis, and PTB. The findings could help guide future research assessing DNA methylation and other APBOs.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRCRD42022370647.

Cardiovascular Risk in Pediatrics: A Dynamic Process during the First 1000 Days of Life

The early childhood period, encompassing prenatal and early stages, assumes a pivotal role in shaping cardiovascular risk factors. We conducted a narrative review, presenting a non-systematic summation and analysis of the available literature, focusing on cardiovascular risk from prenatal development to the first 1000 days of life. Elements such as maternal health, genetic predisposition, inadequate fetal nutrition, and rapid postnatal growth contribute to this risk. Specifically, maternal obesity and antibiotic use during pregnancy can influence transgenerational risk factors. Conditions at birth, such as fetal growth restriction and low birth weight, set the stage for potential cardiovascular challenges. To consider cardiovascular risk in early childhood as a dynamic process is useful when adopting a personalized prevention for future healthcare and providing recommendations for management throughout their journey from infancy to early adulthood. A comprehensive approach is paramount in addressing early childhood cardiovascular risks. By targeting critical periods and implementing preventive strategies, healthcare professionals and policymakers can pave the way for improved cardiovascular outcomes. Investing in children's health during their early years holds the key to alleviating the burden of cardiovascular diseases for future generations.

New Insights and Potential Therapeutic Interventions in Metabolic Diseases

Endocrine homeostasis and metabolic diseases have been the subject of extensive research in recent years. The development of new techniques and insights has led to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying these conditions and opened up new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we discussed the rise of metabolic diseases, especially in Western countries, the genetical, psychological, and behavioral basis of metabolic diseases, the role of nutrition and physical activity in the development of metabolic diseases, the role of single-cell transcriptomics, gut microbiota, epigenetics, advanced imaging techniques, and cell-based therapies in metabolic diseases. Finally, practical applications derived from this information are made.

Global Scientific Trends on Healthy Eating from 2002 to 2021: A Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis

Diet has been recognized as a vital risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), climate changes, and increasing population, which has been reflected by a rapidly growing body of the literature related to healthy eating. To reveal a panorama of the topics related to healthy eating, this study aimed to characterize and visualize the knowledge structure, hotspots, and trends in this field over the past two decades through bibliometric analyses. Publications related to healthy eating between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2021 were retrieved and extracted from the Web of Science database. The characteristics of articles including publication years, journals, authors, institutions, countries/regions, references, and keywords were assessed. The analyses on co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation were performed and network visualization maps were constructed by VOSviewer. Major subdomains identified by bibliometrics were further discussed and analyzed. A total of 12,442 articles on healthy eating were identified. Over the past two decades, the annual global publications increased from 71 to 1764, showing a nearly 25-fold growth. The journal Nutrients published the most articles and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition possessed the highest citations. The United States, Harvard University, and Hu, Frank B. were identified as the most productive and influential country, institution, and author, respectively. The co-occurrence cluster analysis of the top 100 keywords formed four clusters: (1) the food insecurity environment for youths highlighting the necessity and significance of implementing healthy eating in early life; (2) sustainable advantages of the Mediterranean diet; (3) the importance of an overall healthy lifestyle optimization leveraged by eHealth; (4) the challenges during the course of healthy eating against obesity, which are prominent in reflecting the knowledge structure, hotspots, and trends. Moreover, COVID-19, orthorexia nervosa, sustainability, microbiota, food insecurity, and e-health are identified keywords that represented the latest high-frequency keywords and indicated the emerging frontiers of healthy eating. This study indicates that the number of publications on healthy eating will increase in the future and that healthy dietary patterns and clinical applications of healthy eating will be the next hotspots in this research field.

Current challenges and future implications of exploiting the omics data into nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics for personalized diagnosis and nutrition-based care

Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, combined with the omics technologies, are a demanding and an increasingly important field in personalizing nutrition-based care to understand an individual's response to nutrition-guided therapy. Omics is defined as the analysis of the large data sets of the biological system featuring transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics and providing new insights into cell regulation. The effect of combining nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics with omics will give insight into molecular analysis, as human nutrition requirements vary per individual. Omics measures modest intraindividual variability and is critical to exploit these data for use in the development of precision nutrition. Omics, combined with nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, is instrumental in the creation of goals for improving the accuracy of nutrition evaluations. Although dietary-based therapies are provided for various clinical conditions such as inborn errors of metabolism, limited advancement has been done to expand the omics data for a more mechanistic understanding of cellular networks dependent on nutrition-based expression and overall regulation of genes. The greatest challenge remains in the clinical sector to integrate the current data available, overcome the well-established limits of self-reported methods in research, and provide omics data, combined with nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics research, for each individual. Hence, the future seems promising if a design for personalized, nutrition-based diagnosis and care can be implemented practically in the health care sector.

Parental methylation mediates how progeny respond to environments of parents and of progeny themselves

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Environments experienced by both parents and offspring influence progeny traits, but the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate the balance of parental vs. progeny control of progeny phenotypes are not known. We tested whether DNA methylation in parents and/or progeny mediates responses to environmental cues experienced in both generations.

METHODS

Using Arabidopsis thaliana, we manipulated parental and progeny DNA methylation both chemically, via 5-azacytidine, and genetically, via mutants of methyltransferase genes, then measured progeny germination responses to simulated canopy shade in parental and progeny generations.

KEY RESULTS

We first found that germination of offspring responded to parental but not seed demethylation. We further found that parental demethylation reversed the parental effect of canopy in seeds with low (Cvi-1) to intermediate (Col) dormancy, but it obliterated the parental effect in seeds with high dormancy (Cvi-0). Demethylation did so by either suppressing germination of seeds matured under white-light (Cvi-1) or under canopy (Cvi-0), or by increasing the germination of seeds matured under canopy (Col). Disruption of parental methylation also prevented seeds from responding to their own light environment in one genotype (Cvi-0, most dormant), but it enabled seeds to respond to their own environment in another genotype (Cvi-1, least dormant). Using mutant genotypes, we found that both CG and non-CG DNA methylation were involved in parental effects on seed germination.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental methylation state influences seed germination more strongly than does the progeny's own methylation state, and it influences how seeds respond to environments of parents and progeny in a genotype-specific manner.

Maternal dietary methionine restriction alters hepatic expression of one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic mechanism genes in the ducklings

BACKGROUND

Embryonic and fetal development is very susceptible to the availability of nutrients that can interfere with the setting of epigenomes, thus modifying the main metabolic pathways and impacting the health and phenotypes of the future individual. We have previously reported that a 38% reduction of the methyl donor methionine in the diet of 30 female ducks reduced the body weight of their 180 mule ducklings compared to that of 190 ducklings from 30 control females. The maternal methionine-restricted diet also altered plasmatic parameters in 30 of their ducklings when compared to that of 30 ducklings from the control group. Thus, their plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations were higher while their free fatty acid level and alanine transaminase activity were decreased. Moreover, the hepatic transcript level of 16 genes involved in pathways related to energy metabolism was significantly different between the two groups of ducklings. In the present work, we continued studying the liver of these newly hatched ducklings to explore the impact of the maternal dietary methionine restriction on the hepatic transcript level of 70 genes mostly involved in one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic mechanisms.

RESULTS

Among the 12 genes (SHMT1, GART, ATIC, FTCD, MSRA, CBS, CTH, AHCYL1, HSBP1, DNMT3, HDAC9 and EZH2) identified as differentially expressed between the two maternal diet groups (p-value < 0.05), 3 of them were involved in epigenetic mechanisms. Ten other studied genes (MTR, GLRX, MTHFR, AHCY, ADK, PRDM2, EEF1A1, ESR1, PLAGL1, and WNT11) tended to be differently expressed (0.05 < p-value < 0.10). Moreover, the maternal dietary methionine restriction altered the number and nature of correlations between expression levels of differential genes for one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic mechanisms, expression levels of differential genes for energy metabolism, and phenotypic traits of ducklings.

CONCLUSION

This avian model showed that the maternal dietary methionine restriction impacted both the mRNA abundance of 22 genes involved in one-carbon metabolism or epigenetic mechanisms and the mRNA abundance of 16 genes involved in energy metabolism in the liver of the newly hatched offspring, in line with the previously observed changes in their phenotypic traits.

Maternal nutritional status and offspring childlessness: Evidence from the late-nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries in a group of Italian populations

The role of maternal nutrition in affecting offspring fertility, through alteration of foetal programming, has been demonstrated in animal-based experiments. However, results from human populations appear inconsistent and sometimes contradictory, likely because they have been based on single famine events. In this paper, we adopt a different approach. We combine official annual time series of daily nutrient availability with a sample of women's reproductive histories from the 1961 Italian Census to investigate the role of maternal nutritional status in pregnancy on offspring childlessness. The analysis therefore covers cohorts of females born between 1861 and 1939. Our results show a negative association between calorie availability in pregnancy and the odds of offspring childlessness, whereas no association is found between protein availability and offspring childlessness. The consequences of poor calorie intake were aggravated during the summer, likely due to the participation of pregnant women in physically demanding work.

Prenatal SAMe Treatment Induces Changes in Brain Monoamines and in the Expression of Genes Related to Monoamine Metabolism in a Mouse Model of Social Hierarchy and Depression, Probably via an Epigenetic Mechanism

Reduction in the levels of monoamines, such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain, were reported in patients and animals with depression. SAMe, a universal methyl donor and an epigenetic modulator, is successfully used as an adjunct treatment of depression. We previously found that prenatal treatment with SAMe of Submissive (Sub) mice that serve as a model for depression alleviated many of the behavioral depressive symptoms. In the present study, we treated pregnant Sub mice with 20 mg/kg of SAMe on days 12–15 of gestation and studied the levels of monoamines and the expression of genes related to monoamines metabolism in their prefrontal cortex (PFC) at the age of 3 months. The data were compared to normal saline-treated Sub mice that exhibit depressive-like symptoms. SAMe increased the levels of serotonin in the PFC of female Sub mice but not in males. The levels of 5-HIAA were not changed. SAMe increased the levels of dopamine and of DOPAC in males and females but increased the levels of HVA only in females. The levels of norepinephrine and its metabolite MHPG were unchanged. SAMe treatment changed the expression of several genes involved in the metabolism of these monoamines, also in a sex-related manner. The increase in several monoamines induced by SAMe in the PFC may explain the alleviation of depressive-like symptoms. Moreover, these changes in gene expression more than 3 months after treatment probably reflect the beneficial effects of SAMe as an epigenetic modulator in the treatment of depression.

Milk Exosomal microRNAs: Postnatal Promoters of β Cell Proliferation but Potential Inducers of β Cell De-Differentiation in Adult Life

Pancreatic β cell expansion and functional maturation during the birth-to-weaning period is driven by epigenetic programs primarily triggered by growth factors, hormones, and nutrients provided by human milk. As shown recently, exosomes derived from various origins interact with β cells. This review elucidates the potential role of milk-derived exosomes (MEX) and their microRNAs (miRs) on pancreatic β cell programming during the postnatal period of lactation as well as during continuous cow milk exposure of adult humans to bovine MEX. Mechanistic evidence suggests that MEX miRs stimulate mTORC1/c-MYC-dependent postnatal β cell proliferation and glycolysis, but attenuate β cell differentiation, mitochondrial function, and insulin synthesis and secretion. MEX miR content is negatively affected by maternal obesity, gestational diabetes, psychological stress, caesarean delivery, and is completely absent in infant formula. Weaning-related disappearance of MEX miRs may be the critical event switching β cells from proliferation to TGF-β/AMPK-mediated cell differentiation, whereas continued exposure of adult humans to bovine MEX miRs via intake of pasteurized cow milk may reverse β cell differentiation, promoting β cell de-differentiation. Whereas MEX miR signaling supports postnatal β cell proliferation (diabetes prevention), persistent bovine MEX exposure after the lactation period may de-differentiate β cells back to the postnatal phenotype (diabetes induction).

The impact of maternal high-fat diet on offspring neurodevelopment

A maternal high-fat diet affects offspring neurodevelopment with long-term consequences on their brain health and behavior. During the past three decades, obesity has rapidly increased in the whole human population worldwide, including women of reproductive age. It is known that maternal obesity caused by a high-fat diet may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. A maternal high-fat diet can affect offspring neurodevelopment due to inflammatory activation of the maternal gut, adipose tissue, and placenta, mirrored by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both maternal and fetal circulation. Furthermore, a maternal high fat diet causes gut microbial dysbiosis further contributing to increased inflammatory milieu during pregnancy and lactation, thus disturbing both prenatal and postnatal neurodevelopment of the offspring. In addition, global molecular and cellular changes in the offspring's brain may occur due to epigenetic modifications including the downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and the activation of the endocannabinoid system. These neurodevelopmental aberrations are reflected in behavioral deficits observed in animals, corresponding to behavioral phenotypes of certain neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. Here we reviewed recent findings from rodent models and from human studies to reveal potential mechanisms by which a maternal high-fat diet interferes with the neurodevelopment of the offspring.

Generational synaptic functions of GABAA receptor β3 subunit deteriorations in an animal model of social deficit

BACKGROUND

Disruption of normal brain development is implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders with neurodevelopmental origins, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Widespread abnormalities in brain structure and functions caused by dysregulations of neurodevelopmental processes has been recently shown to exert adverse effects across generations. An imbalance between excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) transmission is the putative hypothesis of ASD pathogenesis, supporting by the specific implications of inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system in autistic individuals and animal models of ASD. However, the contribution of GABAergic system in the neuropathophysiology across generations of ASD is still unknown. Here, we uncover profound alterations in the expression and function of GABA_A receptors (GABA_ARs) in the amygdala across generations of the VPA-induced animal model of ASD.

METHODS

The F2 generation was produced by mating an F1 VPA-induced male offspring with naïve females after a single injection of VPA on embryonic day (E12.5) in F0. Autism-like behaviors were assessed by animal behavior tests. Expression and functional properties of GABA_ARs and related proteins were examined by using western blotting and electrophysiological techniques.

RESULTS

Social deficit, repetitive behavior, and emotional comorbidities were demonstrated across two generations of the VPA-induced offspring. Decreased synaptic GABA_AR and gephyrin levels, and inhibitory transmission were found in the amygdala from two generations of the VPA-induced offspring with greater reductions in the F2 generation. Weaker association of gephyrin with GABA_AR was shown in the F2 generation than the F1 generation. Moreover, dysregulated NMDA-induced enhancements of gephyrin and GABA_AR at the synapse in the VPA-induced offspring was worsened in the F2 generation than the F1 generation. Elevated glutamatergic modifications were additionally shown across generations of the VPA-induced offspring without generation difference.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these findings revealed the E/I synaptic abnormalities in the amygdala from two generations of the VPA-induced offspring with GABAergic deteriorations in the F2 generation, suggesting a potential therapeutic role of the GABAergic system to generational pathophysiology of ASD.

The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Continuum from Prenatal Life to Adulthood: A Literature Review

The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) arises from the interaction of prenatal factors; epigenetic regulation; neonatal factors; and factors that affect childhood and adolescence, such as early adiposity rebound (AR) and social and environmental influences. Thus, CVD risk varies between the group of low-risk metabolically healthy normal-weight subjects (MHNW); the intermediate-risk group, which includes metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy normal-weight subjects (MUHNW); and the high-risk group of metabolically unhealthy obese (MUHO) subjects. In this continuum, several risk factors come into play and contribute to endothelial damage, vascular and myocardial remodeling, and atherosclerotic processes. These pathologies can occur both in prenatal life and in early childhood and contribute to significantly increasing CVD risk in young adults over time. Early intervention in the pediatric MUHO population to reduce the CVD risk during adulthood remains a challenge. In this review, we focus on CVD risk factors arising at different stages of life by performing a search of the recent literature. It is urgent to focus on preventive or early therapeutic strategies to stop this disturbing negative metabolic trend, which manifests as a continuum from prenatal life to adulthood.

Effect of an antenatal diet and lifestyle intervention and maternal BMI on cord blood DNA methylation in infants of overweight and obese women: The LIMIT Randomised Controlled Trial

Background

To investigate the effect of an antenatal diet and lifestyle intervention, and maternal pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, on infant cord blood DNA methylation.

Methods

We measured DNA methylation in 645 cord blood samples from participants in the LIMIT study (an antenatal diet and lifestyle intervention for women with early pregnancy BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2) using the Illumina 450K BeadChip array, and tested for any differential methylation related to the intervention, and to maternal early pregnancy BMI. We also analysed differential methylation in relation to selected candidate genes.

Results

No CpG sites were significantly differentially methylated in relation to either the diet and lifestyle intervention, or with maternal early pregnancy BMI. There was no significant differential methylation in any of the selected genes related to the intervention, or to maternal BMI.

Conclusion

We found no evidence of an effect of either antenatal diet and lifestyle, or of maternal early pregnancy BMI, on cord blood DNA methylation.

Clinical trials registration

ACTRN12607000161426

Epigenetic changes induced by in utero dietary challenge result in phenotypic variability in successive generations of mice

Transmission of epigenetic information between generations occurs in nematodes, flies and plants, mediated by specialised small RNA pathways, modified histones and DNA methylation. Similar processes in mammals can also affect phenotype through intergenerational or trans-generational mechanisms. Here we generate a luciferase knock-in reporter mouse for the imprinted Dlk1 locus to visualise and track epigenetic fidelity across generations. Exposure to high-fat diet in pregnancy provokes sustained re-expression of the normally silent maternal Dlk1 in offspring (loss of imprinting) and increased DNA methylation at the somatic differentially methylated region (sDMR). In the next generation heterogeneous Dlk1 mis-expression is seen exclusively among animals born to F1-exposed females. Oocytes from these females show altered gene and microRNA expression without changes in DNA methylation, and correct imprinting is restored in subsequent generations. Our results illustrate how diet impacts the foetal epigenome, disturbing canonical and non-canonical imprinting mechanisms to modulate the properties of successive generations of offspring.

Personalized Nutrition in the Management of Female Infertility: New Insights on Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation

Increasing evidence on the significance of nutrition in reproduction is emerging from both animal and human studies, suggesting a mutual association between nutrition and female fertility. Different “fertile” dietary patterns have been studied; however, in humans, conflicting results or weak correlations are often reported, probably because of the individual variations in genome, proteome, metabolome, and microbiome and the extent of exposure to different environmental conditions. In this scenario, “precision nutrition”, namely personalized dietary patterns based on deep phenotyping and on metabolomics, microbiome, and nutrigenetics of each case, might be more efficient for infertile patients than applying a generic nutritional approach. In this review, we report on new insights into the nutritional management of infertile patients, discussing the main nutrigenetic, nutrigenomic, and microbiomic aspects that should be investigated to achieve effective personalized nutritional interventions. Specifically, we will focus on the management of low-grade chronic inflammation, which is associated with several infertility-related diseases.

Effects of in ovo feeding of t10,c12-conjugated linoleic acid on hepatic lipid metabolism and subcutaneous adipose tissue deposition in newly hatched broiler chicks

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether in ovo feeding of t10,c12-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could regulate hepatic lipid metabolism and decrease lipid accumulation in newly hatched chicks. Three hundred and sixty fertilely specific pathogen-free hatching eggs were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups. On embryonic day 11 of incubation (E11), 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, or 7.5 mg t10,c12-CLA were injected into the eggs. The results indicated that in ovo feeding of t10,c12-CLA significantly decreased the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) mass and the relative SAT weight of newly hatched chicks in linear and quadratic manners (P < 0.05). In liver, the levels of triglycerides were reduced linearly and quadratically and total cholesterol were reduced quadratically as the dose of t10,c12-CLA increased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a (CPT1a) content and polyunsaturated fatty acid proportion were increased quadratically in t10,c12-CLA groups (P < 0.05), accompanied by the decrease of malondialdehyde level and the increase of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity activities (P < 0.05). In addition, in ovo feeding of t10,c12-CLA decreased the mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 in linear and quadratic manners (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expression of adipose triacylglyceride lipase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase significantly in liver (P < 0.05), accompanied by upregulating the mRNA expression of CPT1a quadratically and AMP-activated protein kinase α linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05). In SAT, the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c were decreased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05), and the expression of PPARα and CPT1a genes were increased linearly and quadratically as the dose of t10,c12-CLA increased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that in ovo feeding of t10,c12-CLA alleviates lipid accumulation in newly hatched chicks by suppressing fatty acid synthesis and stimulating lipolysis in the liver and inhibiting adipocyte differentiation in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Integrative epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal metabolic switching by intermittent fasting in brain

Intermittent fasting (IF) remains the most effective intervention to achieve robust anti-aging effects and attenuation of age-related diseases in various species. Epigenetic modifications mediate the biological effects of several environmental factors on gene expression; however, no information is available on the effects of IF on the epigenome. Here, we first found that IF for 3 months caused modulation of H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me₃) in the cerebellum, which in turn orchestrated a plethora of transcriptomic changes involved in robust metabolic switching processes commonly observed during IF. Second, a portion of both the epigenomic and transcriptomic modulations induced by IF was remarkably preserved for at least 3 months post-IF refeeding, indicating that memory of IF-induced epigenetic changes was maintained. Notably, though, we found that termination of IF resulted in a loss of H3K9me₃ regulation of the transcriptome. Collectively, our study characterizes the novel effects of IF on the epigenetic-transcriptomic axis, which controls myriad metabolic processes. The comprehensive analyses undertaken in this study reveal a molecular framework for understanding how IF impacts the metabolo-epigenetic axis of the brain and will serve as a valuable resource for future research.

Understanding exposures and latent disease risk within the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program

Understanding the health effects of exposures when there is a lag between exposure and the onset of disease is an important and challenging topic in environmental health research. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Basic Research and Training Program (SRP) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program that uses a multidisciplinary approach to support biomedical and environmental science and engineering research. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the program, SRP grantees are well-positioned to study exposure and latent disease risk across humans, animal models, and various life stages. SRP-funded scientists are working to address the challenge of connecting exposures that occur early in life and prior to conception with diseases that manifest much later, including developing new tools and approaches to predict how chemicals may affect long-term health. Here, we highlight research from the SRP focused on understanding the health effects of exposures with a lag between exposure and the onset of the disease as well as provide future directions for addressing knowledge gaps for this highly complex and challenging topic. Advancing the knowledge of latency to disease will require a multidisciplinary approach to research, the need for data sharing and integration, and new tools and computation approaches to make better predications about the timing of disease onset. A better understanding of exposures that may contribute to later-life diseases is essential to supporting the implementation of prevention and intervention strategies to reduce or modulate exposures to reduce disease burden.

Perinatal Combinational Exposure to Bisphenol A and a High-Fat Diet Contributes to Transgenerational Dysregulation of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Systems in Mice

Both bisphenol A (BPA) and high-fat diet (HFD) exert unfavorable effects on animals and humans; moreover, they could affect the health of their offspring. BPA and HFD often coexist in modern lifestyles; however, the long-term effects of simultaneous exposure of mothers to BPA and HFD during the perinatal period on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems of the offspring remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of simultaneous exposure of mothers to BPA and HFD on the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities in offspring. Institute of Cancer Research female mice (F0) were exposed to BPA and fed with HFD before and during gestation until the end of lactation. F0 mice were mated with untreated males to produce the first generation (F1); subsequently, adult F1 males/females were mated with normal females/males to produce the second generation (F2). Combined maternal exposure to BPA and HFD caused myocardial hypertrophy and aortic tunica media thickening as well as increased the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes and blood pressure in the matrilineal F2 generation. These cardiovascular changes might be associated with reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels. The patrilineal female F2 was more likely to be obese than the patrilineal male F2. Re-feeding with a HFD showed a more significant weight gain and reduced energy expenditure. However, the aforementioned effects were not observed with exposure to HFD or BPA alone during the perinatal period. Our findings suggest that perinatal combinational exposure to BPA and HFD could cause metabolic and cardiovascular disorders in the offspring, Further, our findings demonstrate that the synergistic effects of HFD and BPA could be transmitted to future generations in a sex-dependent manner.

Early-life weight gain patterns of term small-for-gestational-age infants and the predictive ability for later childhood overweight/obesity: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify the weight gain patterns of small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants in early life and to explore the predictive value for later overweight/obesity in childhood.

METHODS

We obtained data from a prospective cohort including term SGA infants born between January 2006 and November 2015 who received regular health care from birth to 5 years in West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China. A latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was applied to group children with similar growth trajectory patterns. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the association between weight gain patterns and later overweight/obesity.

RESULTS

A total of 296 term SGA infants were finally included. Five weight gain trajectories were identified, including excessive rapid catch-up growth (ERCG) (class 1, 10.9%), rapid catch-up growth (RCG) (class 2, 17.9%), appropriate catch-up growth (ACG) (class 3, 53.0%), slow catch-up growth (SCG) (class 4, 13.4%) and almost no catch growth (NCG) (class 5, 4.8%). SGA infants in class 1 and class 2 had a higher BMI according to age- and sex-specific Z scores from 2-5 years of age. In addition, 25% of SGA infants in class 1 and 13.2% of SGA infants in class 2 were found to be overweight/obese at 2-5 years of age. After adjusting for confounders, we found that extremely rapid weight gain (class 1) in the first 2 years of life increased the risk of overweight/obesity by 2.1 times at 2 to 5 years of age (aOR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.3~4.8; P<0.05). Furthermore, the increment of ΔWAZ between 0 and 4 mo was prominently related to the risk of overweight/obesity at 2 to 5 years for term SGA infants (aOR=3.2, 95% CI: 1.7~8.1; P<0.001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed the area under curve (AUC) was 0.7, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) from 0.6 to 0.8 (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The extremely rapid weight gain pattern of term SGA infants in the first 2 years of life increased the risk of overweight/obesity at 2 to 5 years of age. It suggests monitoring weight gain across the infant period represents a first step towards primary prevention of childhood obesity.

Early nutritional influences of cardiovascular health

INTRODUCTION

Increasing evidence shows that nutritional choices during children's formative years, including prenatally, impacts the development of adult onset cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, or stroke.

AREAS COVERED

This literature review aims to synthesize the current body of evidence on nutritional factors, from conception through adolescence, which may influence a person's risk factors for future development of CVD.

EXPERT OPINION

Given the escalating healthcare costs associated with CVD, it is imperative that medical professionals and scientists remain steadfast in prioritizing and promoting early CVD prevention, even within the first few years of life. Though not the only contributing risk factor, diet is a modifiable risk factor and has been shown to have a profound impact on the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adult literature. Nutritional choices should be targeted on multiple levels: prenatally with the mother, individually with the patient, in conjunction with their family unit, and also within the broader community wherein they reside. Healthcare providers can play a key advocacy role for local and national food environment policy changes.

Sex-Specific Effects of Maternal and Post-Weaning High-Fat Diet on Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Asprosin Expression in Mice Offspring

SCOPE

Perinatal high-fat diet (HFD) increases risk of metabolic disorders in offspring. Adipose tissue remodeling is associated with metabolic syndrome. The current study characterizes the profile of maternal HFD-induced changes in adipose tissue remodeling and adipokines expression in mice offspring.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Female C57BL/6 mice are fed with CHOW or HFD for 2 weeks before mating, throughout gestation and lactation. At weaning, pups are randomly fed with CHOW or HFD, resulting in eight groups according to sex and maternal diet: Male CHOW-CHOW (MCC), Male CHOW-HFD (MCH), Male HFD-CHOW (MHC), Male HFD-HFD (MHH), Female CHOW-CHOW (FCC), Female CHOW-HFD (FCH), Female HFD-CHOW (FHC), and Female HFD-HFD (FHH). Increased body weight, impaired glucose tolerance, increased adipose tissue mass and hypertrophy, and decreased circulating asprosin level are only observed in male offspring exposure to maternal HFD. Serum asprosin level negatively correlates with fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol (CHO), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, while positively correlates with serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) levels in male offspring. A combination of genetic and biochemical analyses of adipokines shows the depot- and sex-specific changes in response to maternal and/or post-weaning HFD.

CONCLUSION

This study's results reveal the differential metabolic changes in response to maternal and/or post-weaning HFD in male and female offspring. The effect of maternal HFD on metabolic phonotype is more obvious in male offspring, supporting the notion that males are more susceptible to HFD-induced metabolic disorders.

In utero and childhood exposure to the Great Chinese Famine and risk of cancer in adulthood: the Kailuan Study

BACKGROUND

The risk of cancer in adulthood can be influenced by exposure to environmental factors (e.g., food shortage and stress) in early life.

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the risk of cancer morbidity and mortality between Chinese adults who were or were not exposed to the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961) in utero or during early childhood.

METHODS

The Kailuan Study participants (n = 101,095) were classified into 5 famine exposure groups by birth year collected at study baseline (2006-2007): after 1961 (unexposed), 1959-1961 (in utero exposed), 1956-1958 (infancy and early childhood exposed, aged 0.1-2.9 y), 1953-1955 (childhood exposed, aged 3.0-5.9 y), and before 1953 (exposed, aged 6+ y). They were further classified by the severity of famine exposure. Cancer and cancer mortality cases from 2006 to 2016 were confirmed by reviewing medical records. Cox proportional hazard models were computed, adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, and other time-varying cancer-related covariates.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 10.0 y, we identified 3560 incident cancer cases and 1749 cancer deaths. Famine exposure at all ages was positively associated with the risk of cancer morbidity and mortality (P < 0.001 for all, compared with unexposed). Severe exposure to famine in early childhood, but not other ages, had a higher risk of composite cancer events [adjusted HR = 2.04 (95% CI: 1.47, 2.84) for 0.1-2.9 y; and 1.61 (95% CI: 1.15, 2.25) for 3.0-5.9 y], relative to the less severely exposed groups of the same age range. When cancer morbidity and mortality were studied separately, similar patterns were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In utero and early childhood exposures to famine, especially severe famine, were associated with a higher risk of cancer morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Awareness should be raised regarding the long-term effect of early life nutritional status.Trial registration number: ChiCTR-TNRC-11001489 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=8050).

Association of exposure to deoxynivalenol with DNA methylation in white blood cells in children in China

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that commonly contaminates cereals worldwide. Dietary exposure to DON is a subject of great public health concern, but studies on the health effects of chronic exposure to DON are not available. In this study, we investigated the connection between DNA methylation levels and DON exposure in children. The DNA methylation status of white blood cells from 32 children aged 2~15 years old in Henan, China, was profiled. A total of 378 differentially methylated CpGs were identified between the high and low DON exposure groups, and 8 KEGG pathways were found to be significantly enriched among the differentially methylated genes. In addition, the quantitative methylation of EIF2AK4, EMID2 and GNASAS was analysed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. The results showed that the methylation level of EIF2AK4 was significantly different between the two groups, and the methylation levels were associated with exposure to DON. Conclusively, our study found that chronic exposure to DON during childhood could affect DNA methylation levels.

Developmental programming of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns is associated with extreme cardiovascular tolerance to anoxia in the common snapping turtle

Background

Environmental fluctuation during embryonic and fetal development can permanently alter an organism’s morphology, physiology, and behaviour. This phenomenon, known as developmental plasticity, is particularly relevant to reptiles that develop in subterranean nests with variable oxygen tensions. Previous work has shown hypoxia permanently alters the cardiovascular system of snapping turtles and may improve cardiac anoxia tolerance later in life. The mechanisms driving this process are unknown but may involve epigenetic regulation of gene expression via DNA methylation. To test this hypothesis, we assessed in situ cardiac performance during 2 h of acute anoxia in juvenile turtles previously exposed to normoxia (21% oxygen) or hypoxia (10% oxygen) during embryogenesis. Next, we analysed DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in turtles from the same cohorts using whole genome bisulfite sequencing, which represents the first high-resolution investigation of DNA methylation patterns in any reptilian species.

Results

Genome-wide correlations between CpG and CpG island methylation and gene expression patterns in the snapping turtle were consistent with patterns observed in mammals. As hypothesized, developmental hypoxia increased juvenile turtle cardiac anoxia tolerance and programmed DNA methylation and gene expression patterns. Programmed differences in expression of genes such as SCN5A may account for differences in heart rate, while genes such as TNNT2 and TPM3 may underlie differences in calcium sensitivity and contractility of cardiomyocytes and cardiac inotropy. Finally, we identified putative transcription factor-binding sites in promoters and in differentially methylated CpG islands that suggest a model linking programming of DNA methylation during embryogenesis to differential gene expression and cardiovascular physiology later in life. Binding sites for hypoxia inducible factors (HIF1A, ARNT, and EPAS1) and key transcription factors activated by MAPK and BMP signaling (RREB1 and SMAD4) are implicated.

Conclusions

Our data strongly suggests that DNA methylation plays a conserved role in the regulation of gene expression in reptiles. We also show that embryonic hypoxia programs DNA methylation and gene expression patterns and that these changes are associated with enhanced cardiac anoxia tolerance later in life. Programming of cardiac anoxia tolerance has major ecological implications for snapping turtles, because these animals regularly exploit anoxic environments throughout their lifespan.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00414-7.

Dietary fat intake during early pregnancy is associated with cord blood DNA methylation at IGF2 and H19 genes in newborns

Maternal fat intake during pregnancy affects fetal growth, but mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. We performed an exploratory study of the associations of fat consumption during pregnancy with cord blood DNA methylation of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and H19 genes. We used data from 96 uncomplicated full-term pregnancies of mothers of whom majority had normal body mass index (BMI) (66%) in Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort. We assessed maternal diet with validated food frequency questionnaires during the first and second trimesters and measured DNA methylation in segments of the IGF2- and H19-differentially methylated regions (DMRs) by pyrosequencing DNA extracted from umbilical cord blood samples. Mean (SD) age was 32.8 (4.1) years and prepregnancy BMI was 24.0 (4.4) kg/m² . Mean DNA methylation was 56.3% (3.9%) for IGF2-DMR and 44.6% (1.9%) for H19-DMR. Greater first trimester intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fat (effect per 1% of calories at the expense of carbohydrates) was associated with lower DNA methylation of IGF2-DMR (-1.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.2%, -0.2%) and higher DNA methylation at H19-DMR (0.8%; 95% CI: 0.3%, 1.3%). On the other hand, greater first trimester intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fat was associated with lower DNA methylation of the H19-DMR (-4.3%; 95% CI: -7.9%, -0.8%). We did not find significant associations of IGF2 and H19 methylation with IGF2 cord blood levels. Our findings suggest that early prenatal fat intake (omega-3, omega-6, and saturated fatty acids) may influence DNA methylation at the IGF2 and H19 locus, which could impact fetal development and long-term health.

Early Life Exposure to Food Insecurity is Associated with Changes in BMI During Childhood Among Latinos from CHAMACOS

Early life exposures have been associated with obesity later in life. We aim to assess the association between early life exposure to food insecurity and change in BMI throughout childhood and adolescents. Food security status and growth variables from 243 Mother-child dyads from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas study were assessed 7 times over a 12-year period. Generalized log linear models with Poisson distributions and linear regression models were implemented to assess the associations between early life food insecurity and obesity and growth. Early life food insecurity was associated with a 0.43 (0.01, 0.82) kg/m2 decrease in BMI from age 2 to 3.5, and a 0.92 kg/m2 (0.38, 1.46) increase in BMI among boys from ages 3.5 to 5, after adjusting for covariates. Sex and age modify the association between early life exposure to food insecurity and BMI.

Medicinal Plants, Phytochemicals, and Their Impacts on the Maturation of the Gastrointestinal Tract

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the first point of contact for ingested substances and thus represents a direct interface with the external environment. Apart from food processing, this interface plays a significant role in immunity and contributes to the wellbeing of individuals through the brain-gut-microbiota axis. The transition of life from the in utero environment, to suckling and subsequent weaning has to be matched by phased development and maturation of the GIT; from an amniotic fluid occupancy during gestation, to the milk in the suckling state and ultimately solid food ingestion at weaning. This phased maturation of the GIT can be affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including diet. Despite the increasing dietary inclusion of medicinal plants and phytochemicals for health benefits, a dearth of studies addresses their impact on gut maturation. In this review we focus on some recent findings mainly on the positive impact of medicinal plants and phytochemicals in inducing precocious maturation of the GIT, not only in humans but in pertinent animals. We also discuss Paneth cells as mediators and potential markers of GIT maturation.

Exploring the evidence for epigenetic regulation of environmental influences on child health across generations

Environmental exposures, psychosocial stressors and nutrition are all potentially important influences that may impact health outcomes directly or via interactions with the genome or epigenome over generations. While there have been clear successes in large-scale human genetic studies in recent decades, there is still a substantial amount of missing heritability to be elucidated for complex childhood disorders. Mounting evidence, primarily in animals, suggests environmental exposures may generate or perpetuate altered health outcomes across one or more generations. One putative mechanism for these environmental health effects is via altered epigenetic regulation. This review highlights the current epidemiologic literature and supporting animal studies that describe intergenerational and transgenerational health effects of environmental exposures. Both maternal and paternal exposures and transmission patterns are considered, with attention paid to the attendant ethical, legal and social implications.

Methyl-Donor Micronutrient for Gestating Sows: Effects on Gut Microbiota and Metabolome in Offspring Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation during gestation on gut microbiota and the fecal metabolic profile in offspring piglets. Forty-three Duroc × Erhualian gilts were assigned to two dietary groups during gestation: control diet (CON) and CON diet supplemented with MET (folic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12). The body weights of offspring piglets were recorded at birth and weaning. Besides this, fresh fecal samples of offspring piglets were collected at 7, 14, and 21 days. The gut microbiota composition, metabolic profile, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in the fecal samples were determined using 16S rDNA sequencing, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics, and gas chromatography methods, respectively. The results showed that maternal methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation increased the microbiota diversity and uniformity in feces of offspring piglets as indicated by increased Shannon and Simpson indices at 7 days, and greater Simpson, ACE, Chao1 and observed species indices at 21 days. Specifically, at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio were elevated by maternal treatment. At the genus level, the relative abundance of SCFA-producing Dialister, Megasphaera, and Turicibacter, and lactate-producing Sharpea as well as Akkermansia, Weissella, and Pediococcus were increased in the MET group. The metabolic analyses show that maternal methyl-donor micronutrient addition increased the concentrations of individual and total SCFAs of 21-day piglets and increased metabolism mainly involving amino acids, pyrimidine, and purine biosynthesis. Collectively, maternal methyl-donor micronutrient addition altered gut microbiota and the fecal metabolic profile, resulting in an improved weaning weight of offspring piglets.

The high-fructose intake of dams during pregnancy and lactation exerts sex-specific effects on adult rat offspring metabolism

Experimental studies have demonstrated the effects of maternal fructose consumption during pregnancy and lactation on metabolic alterations in their offspring, especially male offspring. However, few studies have focused on female offspring after providing fructose in food to dam rats. Here, we studied whether offspring of both sexes were differentially affected by a maternal high-fructose diet (HFD). For this purpose, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed during pregnancy and lactation with a standard diet (SD) or a HFD (50% w/w). After weaning, offspring were fed an SD; 3 days later, dams were sacrificed, and their offspring were sacrificed on postnatal day 90. Body weight (BW), food and water intake (only for dams), and various biomarkers of metabolic syndrome were measured. When compared to the SD-fed dams, HFD-fed dams had a reduction in BW and food and water intake. Conversely, adiposity, liver weight, liver lipids, and plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid were increased in HFD-fed dams. Moreover, the BW, food consumption, weight of retroperitoneal fat pads, and liver lipids increased in female and male offspring of HFD-fed dams. Interestingly, the pups of HFD-fed mothers showed increased levels of leptin and insulin resistance and decreased levels of adiponectin which were more pronounced in male offspring than in female offspring. In contrast, a higher increase in BW was shown earlier in female offspring. Thus, high-fructose consumption by dams during pregnancy and lactation led to sex-specific developmental programming of the metabolic syndrome phenotype in adult offspring.

Placental superoxide dismutase 3 mediates benefits of maternal exercise on offspring health

Poor maternal diet increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in offspring, adding to the ever-increasing prevalence of these diseases. In contrast, we find that maternal exercise improves the metabolic health of offspring, and here, we demonstrate that this occurs through a vitamin D receptor-mediated increase in placental superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) expression and secretion. SOD3 activates an AMPK/TET signaling axis in fetal offspring liver, resulting in DNA demethylation at the promoters of glucose metabolic genes, enhancing liver function, and improving glucose tolerance. In humans, SOD3 is upregulated in serum and placenta from physically active pregnant women. The discovery of maternal exercise-induced cross talk between placenta-derived SOD3 and offspring liver provides a central mechanism for improved offspring metabolic health. These findings may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to limit the transmission of metabolic disease to the next generation.

Bariatric surgery in the treatment of adolescent obesity: current perspectives in the United States

Introduction: Rates of severe obesity in adolescents have increased at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, there are limited successful treatments for severe obesity in adolescents. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective treatment available for adolescents with Class 2 and above severe obesity and has demonstrated variable degrees of sustained long-term weight loss which leads to resolution of multiple associated conditions and an improved quality of life.Areas covered: We discuss the current landscape of MBS in adolescents and evidence to support its long-term safety and efficacy. A literature search through PubMed, ResearchGate and HOLLIS Harvard Library Online Catalog was performed from the date of inception until 3/15/2021. A combination of the following keywords was used: Pediatric metabolic/bariatric surgery; long term outcomes of Pediatric metabolic/bariatric surgery, perioperative assessment, pediatric metabolic/bariatric surgery barriers; attitudes toward metabolic/bariatric surgery.Expert opinion: MBS is emerging as a safe and effective treatment strategy for adolescents with severe obesity, with recent studies demonstrating durable and sustainable weight loss. There remains an urgent need for longitudinal studies to assess durability of weight loss. Obesity stigma and bias, limited access to tertiary care centers, and skepticism around the treatment of obesity poses a major challenge.

A Systematic Framework for Collecting Site-Specific Sampling and Survey Data to Support Analyses of Health Impacts from Land-Based Pollution in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The rise of small-scale and localized economic activities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has led to increased exposures to contaminants associated with these processes and the potential for resulting adverse health effects in exposed communities. Risk assessment is the process of building models to predict the probability of adverse outcomes based on concentration-response functions and exposure scenarios for individual contaminants, while epidemiology uses statistical methods to explore associations between potential exposures and observed health outcomes. Neither approach by itself is practical or sufficient for evaluating the magnitude of exposures and health impacts associated with land-based pollution in LMICs. Here we propose a more pragmatic framework for designing representative studies, including uniform sampling guidelines and household surveys, that draws from both methodologies to better support community health impact analyses associated with land-based pollution sources in LMICs. Our primary goal is to explicitly link environmental contamination from land-based pollution associated with specific localized economic activities to community exposures and health outcomes at the household level. The proposed framework was applied to the following three types of industries that are now widespread in many LMICs: artisanal scale gold mining (ASGM), used lead-acid battery recycling (ULAB), and small tanning facilities. For each activity, we develop a generalized conceptual site model (CSM) that describes qualitative linkages from chemical releases or discharges, environmental fate and transport mechanisms, exposure pathways and routes, populations at risk, and health outcomes. This upfront information, which is often overlooked, is essential for delineating the contaminant zone of influence in a community and identifying relevant households for study. We also recommend cost-effective methods for use in LMICs related to environmental sampling, biological monitoring, survey questionnaires, and health outcome measurements at contaminated and unexposed reference sites. Future study designs based on this framework will facilitate consistent, comparable, and standardized community exposure, risk, and health impact assessments for land-based pollution in LMICs. The results of these studies can also support economic burden analyses and risk management decision-making around site cleanup, risk mitigation, and public health education.

Adulthood blood levels of hsa-miR-29b-3p associate with preterm birth and adult metabolic and cognitive health

Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and neurocognitive impairment later in life. We analyzed for the first time the associations of PTB with blood miRNA levels in adulthood. We also investigated the relationship of PTB associated miRNAs and adulthood phenotypes previously linked with premature birth. Blood MicroRNA profiling, genome-wide gene expression analysis, computer-based cognitive testing battery (CANTAB) and serum NMR metabolomics were performed for Young Finns Study subjects (aged 34-49 years, full-term n = 682, preterm n = 84). Preterm birth (vs. full-term) was associated with adulthood levels of hsa-miR-29b-3p in a fully adjusted regression model (p = 1.90 × 10^-4, FDR = 0.046). The levels of hsa-miR-29b-3p were down-regulated in subjects with PTB with appropriate birthweight for gestational age (p = 0.002, fold change [FC] = - 1.20) and specifically in PTB subjects with small birthweight for gestational age (p = 0.095, FC = - 1.39) in comparison to individuals born full term. Hsa-miR-29b-3p levels correlated with the expressions of its target-mRNAs BCL11A and CS and the gene set analysis results indicated a target-mRNA driven association between hsa-miR-29b-3p levels and Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Insulin signaling and Regulation of Actin Cytoskeleton pathway expression. The level of hsa-miR-29b-3p was directly associated with visual processing and sustained attention in CANTAB test and inversely associated with serum levels of VLDL subclass component and triglyceride levels. In conlcusion, adult blood levels of hsa-miR-29b-3p were lower in subjects born preterm. Hsa-miR-29b-3p associated with cognitive function and may be linked with adulthood morbidities in subjects born preterm, possibly through regulation of gene sets related to neurodegenerative diseases and insulin signaling as well as VLDL and triglyceride metabolism.

Oocyte maturation under lipotoxic conditions induces carryover transcriptomic and functional alterations during post-hatching development of good-quality blastocysts: novel insights from a bovine embryo-transfer model

STUDY QUESTION

Does oocyte maturation under lipolytic conditions have detrimental carry-over effects on post-hatching embryo development of good-quality blastocysts after transfer?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Surviving, morphologically normal blastocysts derived from bovine oocytes that matured under lipotoxic conditions exhibit long-lasting cellular dysfunction at the transcriptomic and metabolic levels, which coincides with retarded post-hatching embryo development.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

There is increasing evidence showing that following maturation in pathophysiologically relevant lipotoxic conditions (as in obesity or metabolic syndrome), surviving blastocysts of good (transferable) morphological quality have persistent transcriptomic and epigenetic alteration even when in vitro embryo culture takes place under standard conditions. However, very little is known about subsequent development in the uterus after transfer.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro in the presence of pathophysiologically relevant, high non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations (HIGH PA), or in basal NEFA concentrations (BASAL) as a physiological control. Eight healthy multiparous non-lactating Holstein cows were used for embryo transfers. Good-quality blastocysts (pools of eight) were transferred per cow, and cows were crossed over for treatments in the next replicate. Embryos were recovered 7 days later and assessed for post-hatching development, phenotypic features and gene expression profile. Blastocysts from solvent-free and NEFA-free maturation (CONTROL) were also tested for comparison.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Recovered Day 14 embryos were morphologically assessed and dissected into embryonic disk (ED) and extraembryonic tissue (EXT). Samples of EXT were cultured for 24 h to assess cellular metabolic activity (glucose and pyruvate consumption and lactate production) and embryos' ability to signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy (interferon-τ secretion; IFN-τ). ED and EXT samples were subjected to RNA sequencing to evaluate the genome-wide transcriptome patterns.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The embryo recovery rate at Day 14 p.i. was not significantly different among treatment groups (P > 0.1). However, higher proportions of HIGH PA embryos were retarded in growth (in spherical stage) compared to the more elongated tubular stage embryos in the BASAL group (P < 0.05). Focusing on the normally developed tubular embryos in both groups, HIGH PA exposure resulted in altered cellular metabolism and altered transcriptome profile particularly in pathways related to redox-regulating mechanisms, apoptosis, cellular growth, interaction and differentiation, energy metabolism and epigenetic mechanisms, compared to BASAL embryos. Maturation under BASAL conditions did not have any significant effects on post-hatching development and cellular functions compared to CONTROL.

LARGE-SCALE DATA

The datasets of RNA sequencing analysis are available in the NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository, series accession number GSE127889 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE127889). Datasets of differentially expressed genes and their gene ontology functions are available in the Mendeley datasets at http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/my2z7dvk9j.2.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The bovine model was used here to allow non-invasive embryo transfer and post-hatching recovery on Day 14. There are physiological differences in some characteristics of post-hatching embryo development between human and cows, such as embryo elongation and trophoblastic invasion. However, the main carry-over effects of oocyte maturation under lipolytic conditions described here are evident at the cellular level and therefore may also occur during post-hatching development in other species including humans. In addition, post-hatching development was studied here under a healthy uterine environment to focus on carry-over effects originating from the oocyte, whereas additional detrimental effects may be induced by maternal metabolic disorders due to adverse changes in the uterine microenvironment. RNA sequencing results were not verified by qPCR, and no solvent control was included.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Our observations may increase the awareness of the importance of maternal metabolic stress at the level of the preovulatory oocyte in relation to carry-over effects that may persist in the transferrable embryos. It should further stimulate new research about preventive and protective strategies to optimize maternal metabolic health around conception to maximize embryo viability and thus fertility outcome.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was supported by the Flemish Research Fund (FWO grant 11L8716N and FWO project 42/FAO10300/6541). The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

High Choline Intake during Pregnancy Reduces Characteristics of the Metabolic Syndrome in Male Wistar Rat Offspring Fed a High Fat But Not a Normal Fat Post-Weaning Diet

Maternal choline intakes are below recommendations, potentially impairing the child’s later-life metabolic health. This study aims to elucidate the interaction between the choline content of the gestational diet (GD) and fat content of the post-weaning diet (PWD) on metabolic phenotype of male Wistar rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed a standard rodent diet (AIN-93G) with either recommended choline (RC, 1 g/kg diet choline bitartrate) or high choline (HC, 2.5-fold). Male pups were weaned to either a normal (16%) fat (NF) or a high (45%) fat (HF) diet for 17 weeks. Body weight, visceral adiposity, food intake, energy expenditure, plasma hormones, triglycerides, and hepatic fatty acids were measured. HC-HF offspring had 7% lower body weight but not food intake, and lower adiposity, plasma triglycerides, and insulin resistance compared to RC-HF. They also had increased hepatic n-3 fatty acids and a reduced n-6/n-3 and C 18:1 n-9/C18:0 ratios. In contrast, HC-NF offspring had 6–8% higher cumulative food intake and body weight, as well as increased leptin and elevated hepatic C16:1 n-7/C16:0 ratio compared to RC-NF. Therefore, gestational choline supplementation associated with improved long-term regulation of several biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome in male Wistar rat offspring fed a HF, but not a NF, PWD.

The Influence of Maternal Dietary Intake During Mid-Gestation on Growth, Feedlot Performance, miRNA and mRNA Expression, and Carcass and Meat Quality of Resultant Offspring

This research analyzed how maternal plane of nutrition during mid-gestation impacts growth, blood metabolites, expression of microRNA and messenger RNA in skeletal muscle, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics of progeny. Thirty-two cows were bred to the same Angus sire and fed to either maintain a body condition score (BCS) of 5.0 to 5.5 (maintenance [MAIN]; n = 15) or to lose 1 BCS (restriction [REST]; n = 17) over an 84-d period of mid-gestation. Following the second trimester, all cows were co-mingled and fed at maintenance for the remainder of gestation. Following the 84-d treatment period, REST cows had a lower (P &lt; 0.01) BCS than MAIN cows. At the end of the third trimester, there was no difference (P = 0.78) in BCS between the treatment groups. There was no difference (P &gt; 0.10) between offspring in birthweight, weaning weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, dry matter intake, carcass yield, steak quality, or in circulating levels of glucose, cortisol, insulin, or insulin-like growth factor-1. REST offspring expressed more (P &lt; 0.05) miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-181d, miR-214, miR-424 and miR-486 at weaning than MAIN offspring. At harvest, REST offspring expressed more (P &lt; 0.05) miR-133a and less (P &lt; 0.01) miR-486 than MAIN offspring. REST steaks were perceived as more tender (P = 0.05) by a trained sensory panel. These results indicate that maternal nutrient restriction during mid-gestation resulting in a loss of 1 BCS has an effect on microRNA expression in the skeletal muscle but does not alter postnatal growth potential, carcass quality, or end product quality of the offspring. This suggests that moderate restriction in maternal nutrition during the second trimester, which results in a drop in BCS that can be recovered during the third trimester, should not cause alarm for producers when considering future offspring performance.