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Reversal of neurobehavioral teratogenicity in animal models and human: Three decades of progress. Brain Res Bull 2019; 150:328-342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Lancet Neurol 2019; 18:760-770. [PMID: 31160204 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although prenatal alcohol exposure causes craniofacial anomalies, growth retardation, neurological abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and birth defects, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is underdiagnosed. Global prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is 0·77%, with a higher prevalence of 2-5% in Europe and North America, highlighting the need for increased diagnosis and treatment. However, diagnosis remains challenging because of the poor reliability of self-reported maternal drinking histories, an absence of sensitive biomarkers, and the infrequency of diagnostic dysmorphic facial features among individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Different diagnostic systems and disagreements over criteria have slowed progress in the diagnosis and management of the disorder. Neuroimaging shows abnormalities in brain structure, cortical development, white matter microstructure, and functional connectivity in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. These abnormalities modify developmental trajectories and are associated with deficits in cognition, executive function, memory, vision, hearing, motor skills, behaviour, and social adaptation. Promising trials of nutritional interventions and cognitive rehabilitation therapies are underway, with the aim of treating cognitive deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Jarmasz JS, Stirton H, Basalah D, Davie JR, Clarren SK, Astley SJ, Del Bigio MR. Global DNA Methylation and Histone Posttranslational Modifications in Human and Nonhuman Primate Brain in Association with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1145-1162. [PMID: 31074890 PMCID: PMC6593679 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Based upon experimental animal studies, the neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PNAE)/fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) have been attributed, at least in part, to epigenetic modifications. However, there are no direct analyses of human brain tissue. Methods Immunohistochemical detection of global epigenetic markers was performed on temporal lobe samples of autopsied fetuses and infants with documented PNAE. They were compared to age‐, sex‐, and postmortem delay‐matched control cases (18 pairs; 20 to 70.5 weeks postconception). Temporal lobe tissue from a macaque monkey model of PNAE was also studied (5.7 to 6 months of age). We used antibodies targeting 4 DNA cytosine, 4 histone methylation, and 6 histone acetylation modifications and assigned scores based upon the semiquantitatively graded intensity and proportion of positively labeled nuclei in the ventricular and subventricular zones, ependyma, temporal cortex, temporal white matter, dentate gyrus (DG), and CA1 pyramidal layer. Results Temporal changes were identified for almost all marks according to the state of maturation in the human brain. In the DG (and 3 other brain regions), a statistically significant increase in H3K9ac was associated with PNAE. Statistically significant decreases were seen among 5mC, H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K27ac, H4K12ac, and H4K16ac in select regions. In the macaques, H3K36me3 decreased in the DG, and the ependyma showed decreases in 5fC and H3K36me3. Conclusions In human brain, global intranuclear epigenetic modifications are brain region and maturation state‐specific. These exploratory results support the general hypothesis that PNAE is associated with a global decrease in DNA methylation, a global decrease in histone methylation, and a global increase in histone acetylation. Although the human and monkey subjects are not directly comparable in terms of brain maturation, considering the rapid temporal changes in global epigenetic modifications during brain development, interspecies comparisons may be extremely difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Jarmasz
- Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Hannah Stirton
- Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Duaa Basalah
- Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - James R Davie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Sterling K Clarren
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Susan J Astley
- Departments of Epidemiology/Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Marc R Del Bigio
- Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Cobben JM, Krzyzewska IM, Venema A, Mul AN, Polstra A, Postma AV, Smigiel R, Pesz K, Niklinski J, Chomczyk MA, Henneman P, Mannens MMAM. DNA methylation abundantly associates with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its subphenotypes. Epigenomics 2019; 11:767-785. [DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) involves prenatal growth delay, impaired facial and CNS development and causes severe clinical, social-economic burdens. Here, we aim to detect DNA-methylation aberrations associated with FASD and potential FASD diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Patients & methods: The FASD diagnosis was established according to golden-standard protocols in a discovery and independent replication cohort. Genome-wide differential methylation association and replication analyses were performed. Results: We identified several loci that were robustly associated with FASD or one of its sub phenotypes. Our findings were evaluated using previously reported genome-wide surveys. Conclusion: We have detected robust FASD associated differentially methylated positions and differentially methylated regions for FASD in general and for FASD subphenotypes, in other words on growth delay, impaired facial and CNS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Maarten Cobben
- Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Izabela M Krzyzewska
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Genome Diagnostics Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Venema
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Genome Diagnostics Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adri N Mul
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Genome Diagnostics Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abeltje Polstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Genome Diagnostics Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alex V Postma
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Genome Diagnostics Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology & Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Smigiel
- Department of Pediatrics & Rare Disorders, Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Pesz
- Department of Genetics, Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Niklinski
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Monika A Chomczyk
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Peter Henneman
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology & Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel MAM Mannens
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology & Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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55
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Bhatia S, Drake DM, Miller L, Wells PG. Oxidative stress and DNA damage in the mechanism of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:714-748. [PMID: 31033255 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
This review covers molecular mechanisms involving oxidative stress and DNA damage that may contribute to morphological and functional developmental disorders in animal models resulting from exposure to alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) in utero or in embryo culture. Components covered include: (a) a brief overview of EtOH metabolism and embryopathic mechanisms other than oxidative stress; (b) mechanisms within the embryo and fetal brain by which EtOH increases the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); (c) critical embryonic/fetal antioxidative enzymes and substrates that detoxify ROS; (d) mechanisms by which ROS can alter development, including ROS-mediated signal transduction and oxidative DNA damage, the latter of which leads to pathogenic genetic (mutations) and epigenetic changes; (e) pathways of DNA repair that mitigate the pathogenic effects of DNA damage; (f) related indirect mechanisms by which EtOH enhances risk, for example by enhancing the degradation of some DNA repair proteins; and, (g) embryonic/fetal pathways like NRF2 that regulate the levels of many of the above components. Particular attention is paid to studies in which chemical and/or genetic manipulation of the above mechanisms has been shown to alter the ability of EtOH to adversely affect development. Alterations in the above components are also discussed in terms of: (a) individual embryonic and fetal determinants of risk and (b) potential risk biomarkers and mitigating strategies. FASD risk is likely increased in progeny which/who are biochemically predisposed via genetic and/or environmental mechanisms, including enhanced pathways for ROS formation and/or deficient pathways for ROS detoxification or DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shama Bhatia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danielle M Drake
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Peter G Wells
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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56
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Bedi Y, Golding MC. Context is King — Questioning the causal role of DNA methylation in environmentally induced changes in gene expression. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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57
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Sadikovic B, Aref-Eshghi E, Levy MA, Rodenhiser D. DNA methylation signatures in mendelian developmental disorders as a diagnostic bridge between genotype and phenotype. Epigenomics 2019; 11:563-575. [PMID: 30875234 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic and genetic mechanisms regulate the establishment and maintenance of gene expression in its proper context. Recent genome-wide mapping approaches have identified DNA methylation (DNAm) signatures in patients clinically diagnosed with syndromes manifesting as developmental disabilities with intellectual impairments. Here, we review recent studies in which these DNA methylation signatures have enabled highly sensitive and specific screening of such individuals and have clarified ambiguous cases where subjects present with genetic sequence variants of unknown clinical significance (VUS). We propose that these episignatures be considered as echoes and/or legacies of the initiating mutational events within proteins of the so-called epigenetic machinery. As well, we discuss approaches to directly confirm the functional consequences and the implications of these episignatures to patient management and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bekim Sadikovic
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Erfan Aref-Eshghi
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Michael A Levy
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - David Rodenhiser
- Departments of Pediatrics, Biochemistry & Oncology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.,Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6C 2V5, Canada.,London Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada
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58
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Brown JM, Bland R, Jonsson E, Greenshaw AJ. The Standardization of Diagnostic Criteria for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Implications for Research, Clinical Practice and Population Health. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2019; 64:169-176. [PMID: 29788774 PMCID: PMC6405816 DOI: 10.1177/0706743718777398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a preventable disorder caused by maternal alcohol consumption and marked by a range of physical and mental disabilities. Although recognized by the scientific and medical community as a clinical disorder, no internationally standardized diagnostic tool yet exists for FASD. METHODS AND RESULTS This review seeks to analyse the discrepancies in existing diagnostic tools for FASD, and the repercussions these differences have on research, public health, and government policy. CONCLUSIONS Disagreement on the adoption of a standardised tool is reflective of existing gaps in research on the conditions and factors that influence fetal vulnerability to damage from exposure. This discordance has led to variability in research findings, inconsistencies in government messaging, and misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses. The objective measurement of the timing and level of prenatal alcohol exposure is key to bridging these gaps; however, there is conflicting or limited evidence to support the use of existing measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine M. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Roger Bland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Egon Jonsson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Turinsky AL, Butcher DT, Choufani S, Weksberg R, Brudno M. Don't brush off buccal data heterogeneity. Epigenetics 2019; 14:109-117. [PMID: 30821575 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1581592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Buccal epithelial cells are among the most clinically accessible tissues and are increasingly being used to identify epigenetic disease patterns. However, substantial variation in buccal DNA methylation patterns indicates heterogeneity of cell types within and between samples, raising questions of data quality. We systematically estimated cell-type composition for a large collection of buccal and saliva samples from 11 published studies of DNA methylation. In these we identified numerous cases of buccal samples with questionable purity, which may be affected by sampling from individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, and by the brushes used for sample collection. Further challenges are involved in comparisons with tissues such as saliva, in which buccal component varies widely. We propose a reference-based method of correcting for buccal purity that reduces unwanted variation while preserving cross-tissue differences. Our work demonstrates the wide variation of buccal quality in epigenetic studies and suggests a possible approach to overcome this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei L Turinsky
- a Program in Genetics and Genome Biology , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,b Centre for Computational Medicine , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Darci T Butcher
- c Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada
| | - Sanaa Choufani
- a Program in Genetics and Genome Biology , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Rosanna Weksberg
- a Program in Genetics and Genome Biology , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,d Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,e Department of Molecular Genetics , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,f Department of Pediatrics , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,g Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Graduate Studies , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Michael Brudno
- a Program in Genetics and Genome Biology , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,b Centre for Computational Medicine , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.,h Department of Computer Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
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60
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Petrelli B, Bendelac L, Hicks GG, Fainsod A. Insights into retinoic acid deficiency and the induction of craniofacial malformations and microcephaly in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Genesis 2019; 57:e23278. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Berardino Petrelli
- Regenerative Medicine Program and the Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Liat Bendelac
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel‐CanadaFaculty of Medicine, Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel
| | - Geoffrey G. Hicks
- Regenerative Medicine Program and the Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Abraham Fainsod
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel‐CanadaFaculty of Medicine, Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel
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61
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Integration of DNA methylation patterns and genetic variation in human pediatric tissues help inform EWAS design and interpretation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:1. [PMID: 30602389 PMCID: PMC6314079 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-018-0245-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The widespread use of accessible peripheral tissues for epigenetic analyses has prompted increasing interest in the study of tissue-specific DNA methylation (DNAm) variation in human populations. To date, characterizations of inter-individual DNAm variability and DNAm concordance across tissues have been largely performed in adult tissues and therefore are limited in their relevance to DNAm profiles from pediatric samples. Given that DNAm patterns in early life undergo rapid changes and have been linked to a wide range of health outcomes and environmental exposures, direct investigations of tissue-specific DNAm variation in pediatric samples may help inform the design and interpretation of DNAm analyses from early life cohorts. In this study, we present a systematic comparison of genome-wide DNAm patterns between matched pediatric buccal epithelial cells (BECs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), two of the most widely used peripheral tissues in human epigenetic studies. Specifically, we assessed DNAm variability, cross-tissue DNAm concordance and genetic determinants of DNAm across two independent early life cohorts encompassing different ages. Results BECs had greater inter-individual DNAm variability compared to PBMCs and highly the variable CpGs are more likely to be positively correlated between the matched tissues compared to less variable CpGs. These sites were enriched for CpGs under genetic influence, suggesting that a substantial proportion of DNAm covariation between tissues can be attributed to genetic variation. Finally, we demonstrated the relevance of our findings to human epigenetic studies by categorizing CpGs from published DNAm association studies of pediatric BECs and peripheral blood. Conclusions Taken together, our results highlight a number of important considerations and practical implications in the design and interpretation of EWAS analyses performed in pediatric peripheral tissues. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13072-018-0245-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Lussier AA, Bodnar TS, Mingay M, Morin AM, Hirst M, Kobor MS, Weinberg J. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Profiling Developmental DNA Methylation Patterns in Central and Peripheral Tissues. Front Genet 2018; 9:610. [PMID: 30568673 PMCID: PMC6290329 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can alter the development of neurobiological systems, leading to lasting neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, and neurobehavioral deficits. Although the etiology of this reprogramming remains unknown, emerging evidence suggests DNA methylation as a potential mediator and biomarker for the effects of PAE due to its responsiveness to environmental cues and relative stability over time. Here, we utilized a rat model of PAE to examine the DNA methylation profiles of rat hypothalami and leukocytes at four time points during early development to assess the genome-wide impact of PAE on the epigenome and identify potential biomarkers of PAE. Our model of PAE resulted in blood alcohol levels of ~80-150 mg/dl throughout the equivalent of the first two trimesters of human pregnancy. Hypothalami were analyzed on postnatal days (P) 1, 8, 15, 22 and leukocytes at P22 to compare central and peripheral markers. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing. Results: PAE resulted in lasting changes to DNA methylation profiles across all four ages, with 118 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) displaying persistent alterations across the developmental period at a false-discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05. In addition, 299 DMRs showed the same direction of change in the hypothalamus and leukocytes of P22 pups at an FDR < 0.05, with some genes overlapping with the developmental profile findings. The majority of these DMRs were located in intergenic regions, which contained several computationally-predicted transcription factor binding sites. Differentially methylated genes were generally involved in immune function, epigenetic remodeling, metabolism, and hormonal signaling, as determined by gene ontology analyses. Conclusions: Persistent DNA methylation changes in the hypothalamus may be associated with the long-term physiological and neurobehavioral alterations in observed in PAE. Furthermore, correlations between epigenetic alterations in peripheral tissues and those in the brain will provide a foundation for the development of biomarkers of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Finally, findings from studies of PAE provide important insight into the etiology of neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders, as they share numerous phenotypes and comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A Lussier
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tamara S Bodnar
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew Mingay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories Centre for High-Throughput Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alexandre M Morin
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martin Hirst
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories Centre for High-Throughput Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Chater-Diehl E, Sokolowski D, Alberry B, Singh SM. Coordinated Tcf7l2 regulation in a mouse model implicates Wnt signaling in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 97:375-379. [PMID: 30398926 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have repeatedly identified genes with long-term changes in expression, DNA methylation, noncoding RNA, and histone modifications in response to neurodevelopmental alcohol exposure. Articulation of FASD is achieved via alcohol's effect on gene expression, likely involving epigenetic regulation. The list of genes affected is large and heterogeneous, depending on experimental protocol. We present reanalysis and synthesis of results highlighting the Wnt transcription factor 7 like 2 (Tcf7l2) gene as uniquely compatible with hippocampal DNA methylation, histone modifications, and gene expression changes in a coordinated response to neurodevelopmental alcohol exposure. We data-mined the literature for Tcf7l2 alterations in response to prenatal alcohol exposure. Four studies identified changes in brain Tcf7l2 expression in different FASD models. Further, we performed an in silico TCF7L2 binding site analysis for FASD mouse model data sets. Seven of these published gene lists were significantly enriched for TCF7L2 binding, indicating potential functional relationships. Finally, TCF7L2 is involved in regulation of hundreds of genes, with a role in brain development, myelination, and neuronal function. Tcf7l2 may be involved in neurological defects associated with alcohol exposure via dysregulation of many genes through Wnt signaling. Further functional work is warranted to validate this model for FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chater-Diehl
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Dustin Sokolowski
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Bonnie Alberry
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.,Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Shiva M Singh
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.,Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
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Viljoen D, Louw JG, Lombard C, Olivier L. Comparing diagnostic outcomes of children with fetal alcohol syndrome in South Africa with diagnostic outcomes when using the updated Institute of Medicine diagnostic guidelines. Birth Defects Res 2018; 110:1335-1342. [PMID: 30347134 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevalence studies in South Africa, cases of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) were identified that presented differently from the 2016 Hoyme et al. modified Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria. We compared diagnostic outcomes of children diagnosed with FAS using a combination of the 2005 Hoyme et al. criteria and the "gestalt method" in South Africa to the diagnosis they would have received using the latest Hoyme et al. criteria. The frequency with which dysmorphic features presented was compared to the frequency with which they were reported in the revised criteria which drew on a larger sample. METHODS Data were gathered from four South African FASD prevalence studies. Dysmorphology data, anthropometric data, and final diagnosis for participants (N = 917) were extracted. RESULTS Of the 390 participants with diagnoses of "full FAS," 175 would not have received a "full FAS" diagnosis using the 2016 criteria. Of these, 21 would have received a pFAS diagnosis, and 154 would have received a diagnosis of ARND or a "no-FASD" diagnosis. The frequency of all but five dysmorphic features differ significantly between this sample and the sample examined for the 2016 criteria. There is more variability in the features present in the current sample. DISCUSSION Differences regarding diagnostic outcomes and prevalence of dysmorphic features suggest that strict application of the diagnostic criteria may miss children who present with FAS. We recommend including gestalt-based screening in a research setting where the clinical experience is available to inform future guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Viljoen
- Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research (FARR), Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jacobus G Louw
- Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research (FARR), Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Chanelle Lombard
- Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research (FARR), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Leana Olivier
- Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research (FARR), Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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Gartstein MA, Skinner MK. Prenatal influences on temperament development: The role of environmental epigenetics. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 30:1269-1303. [PMID: 29229018 PMCID: PMC5997513 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes current knowledge and outlines future directions relevant to questions concerning environmental epigenetics and the processes that contribute to temperament development. Links between prenatal adversity, epigenetic programming, and early manifestations of temperament are important in their own right, also informing our understanding of biological foundations for social-emotional development. In addition, infant temperament attributes represent key etiological factors in the onset of developmental psychopathology, and studies elucidating their prenatal foundations expand our understanding of developmental origins of health and disease. Prenatal adversity can take many forms, and this overview is focused on the environmental effects of stress, toxicants, substance use/psychotropic medication, and nutrition. Dysregulation associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disruptive disorders was noted in the context of maternal substance use and toxicant exposures during gestation, as well as stress. Although these links can be made based on the existing literature, currently few studies directly connect environmental influences, epigenetic programming, and changes in brain development/behavior. The chain of events starting with environmental inputs and resulting in alterations to gene expression, physiology, and behavior of the organism is driven by epigenetics. Epigenetics provides the molecular mechanism of how environmental factors impact development and subsequent health and disease, including early brain and temperament development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. Gartstein
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA-99164-4820, USA
| | - Michael K. Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA-99164-4236, USA
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66
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Georgieff MK, Tran PV, Carlson ES. Atypical fetal development: Fetal alcohol syndrome, nutritional deprivation, teratogens, and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 30:1063-1086. [PMID: 30068419 PMCID: PMC6074054 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579418000500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that the fetal environment plays an important role in brain development and sets the brain on a trajectory across the life span. An abnormal fetal environment results when factors that should be present during a critical period of development are absent or when factors that should not be in the developing brain are present. While these factors may acutely disrupt brain function, the real cost to society resides in the long-term effects, which include important mental health issues. We review the effects of three factors, fetal alcohol exposure, teratogen exposure, and nutrient deficiencies, on the developing brain and the consequent risk for developmental psychopathology. Each is reviewed with respect to the evidence found in epidemiological and clinical studies in humans as well as preclinical molecular and cellular studies that explicate mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phu V Tran
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine
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67
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Loke YJ, Muggli E, Nguyen L, Ryan J, Saffery R, Elliott EJ, Halliday J, Craig JM. Time- and sex-dependent associations between prenatal alcohol exposure and placental global DNA methylation. Epigenomics 2018; 10:981-991. [PMID: 29956547 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Epigenetic changes, in particular in the placenta, may mediate the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on children's health. We examined the relationship between PAE patterns, based on dose and timing, and placental global DNA methylation. METHODS Using linear regression analysis, we examined the association between different PAE categories and placental global DNA methylation (n = 187), using the proxy measure of Alu-interspersed repeats. RESULTS Following adjustment for important covariates, we found no evidence of an association between PAE and placental global DNA methylation overall. However, when stratifying by newborn sex, PAE throughout pregnancy was associated with higher placental global DNA methylation (1.5%; p = 0.01) of male newborns. CONCLUSION PAE may have sex-specific effects on placental global DNA methylation if alcohol is consumed throughout pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuk Jing Loke
- Environmental & Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Evelyne Muggli
- Public Health Genetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Linh Nguyen
- Environmental & Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.,Cancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Cancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- Discipline of Child & Adolescent Health, School of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Sydney Childrens Hospitals Network, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane Halliday
- Public Health Genetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M Craig
- Environmental & Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia
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68
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Frey S, Eichler A, Stonawski V, Kriebel J, Wahl S, Gallati S, Goecke TW, Fasching PA, Beckmann MW, Kratz O, Moll GH, Heinrich H, Kornhuber J, Golub Y. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Is Associated With Adverse Cognitive Effects and Distinct Whole-Genome DNA Methylation Patterns in Primary School Children. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:125. [PMID: 29997484 PMCID: PMC6028559 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is known to elicit a broad range of systemic effects, including neurophysiological alterations that result in adverse behavioral and cognitive outcomes. However, molecular pathways underlying these long-term intrauterine effects remain to be investigated. Here, we tested a hypothesis that PAE may lead to epigenetic alterations to the DNA resulting in attentional and cognitive alterations of the children. We report the results of the study that included 156 primary school children of the Franconian Cognition and Emotion Studies (FRANCES) cohort which were tested for an objective marker of PAE, ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in meconium at birth. Thirty-two newborns were found to be exposed to alcohol with EtG values above 30 ng/g (EtG+). Previously we described PAE being associated with lower IQ and smaller amplitude of the event-related potential component P3 in go trials (Go-P3), which indicates a reduced capacity of attentional resources. Whole-genome methylation analysis of the buccal cell DNA revealed 193 differentially methylated genes in children with positive meconium EtG, that were clustered into groups involved in epigenetic modifications, neurodegeneration, neurodevelopment, axon guidance and neuronal excitability. Furthermore, we detected mediation effects of the methylation changes in DPP10 and SLC16A9 genes on the EtG related cognitive and attention-related deficits. Our results suggest that system-wide epigenetic changes are involved in long-term effects of PAE. In particular, we show an epigenetic mediation of PAE effects on cognition and attention-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Frey
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anna Eichler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Valeska Stonawski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Kriebel
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, German Research Center for Environmental Health - Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Wahl
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, German Research Center for Environmental Health - Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabina Gallati
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tamme W Goecke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Oliver Kratz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gunther H Moll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hartmut Heinrich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,kbo-Heckscher-Klinikum, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yulia Golub
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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69
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Proceedings of the 2017 annual meeting of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders study group. Alcohol 2018; 69:7-14. [PMID: 29550584 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The 2017 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group (FASDSG) meeting was titled "Prenatal alcohol exposure in the context of multiple factors affecting brain development." The theme was reflected in the interactions between members of the Teratology Society and the FASDSG this year. The first keynote speaker, Elaine Faustman, Ph.D., was a liaison between the societies and spoke about systems biology and the multiple genetic and environmental influences on development. The second keynote speaker, Rebecca Knickmeyer, Ph.D., discussed population neuroscience and multiple influences on brain development. The conference presented updates from three government agencies and short presentations by junior and senior investigators showcasing late-breaking FASD research. The conference was capped by Dr. John Hannigan, Ph.D., the recipient of the 2017 Henry Rosett award for career-long contributions to the field.
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70
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Noor S, Milligan ED. Lifelong Impacts of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Neuroimmune Function. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1107. [PMID: 29910801 PMCID: PMC5992426 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In utero alcohol exposure is emerging as a major risk factor for lifelong aberrant neuroimmune function. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder encompasses a range of behavioral and physiological sequelae that may occur throughout life and includes cognitive developmental disabilities as well as disease susceptibility related to aberrant immune and neuroimmune actions. Emerging data from clinical studies and findings from animal models support that very low to moderate levels of fetal alcohol exposure may reprogram the developing central nervous system leading to altered neuroimmune and neuroglial signaling during adulthood. In this review, we will focus on the consequences of low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on neuroimmune interactions during early life and at different stages of adulthood. Data discussed here will include recent studies suggesting that while abnormal immune function is generally minimal under basal conditions, following pathogenic stimuli or trauma, significant alterations in the neuroimmune axis occur. Evidence from published reports will be discussed with a focus on observations that PAE may bias later-life peripheral immune responses toward a proinflammatory phenotype. The propensity for proinflammatory responses to challenges in adulthood may ultimately shape neuron–glial-immune processes suspected to underlie various neuropathological outcomes including chronic pain and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahani Noor
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Erin D Milligan
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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71
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Marjonen H, Toivonen M, Lahti L, Kaminen-Ahola N. Early prenatal alcohol exposure alters imprinted gene expression in placenta and embryo in a mouse model. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197461. [PMID: 29763474 PMCID: PMC5953443 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can harm the embryonic development and cause life-long consequences in offspring’s health. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of PAE we have used a mouse model of early alcohol exposure, which is based on maternal ad libitum ingestion of 10% (v/v) ethanol for the first eight days of gestation (GD 0.5–8.5). Owing to the detected postnatal growth-restricted phenotype in the offspring of this mouse model and both prenatal and postnatal growth restriction in alcohol-exposed humans, we focused on imprinted genes Insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2), H19, Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptide N (Snrpn) and Paternally expressed gene 3 (Peg3), which all are known to be involved in embryonic and placental growth and development. We studied the effects of alcohol on DNA methylation level at the Igf2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR), Igf2 differentially methylated region 1, Snrpn ICR and Peg3 ICR in 9.5 embryonic days old (E9.5) embryos and placentas by using MassARRAY EpiTYPER. To determine alcohol-induced alterations globally, we also examined methylation in long interspersed nuclear elements (Line-1) in E9.5 placentas. We did not observe any significant alcohol-induced changes in DNA methylation levels. We explored effects of PAE on gene expression of E9.5 embryos as well as E9.5 and E16.5 placentas by using quantitative PCR. The expression of growth promoter gene Igf2 was decreased in the alcohol-exposed E9.5 and E16.5 placentas. The expression of negative growth controller H19 was significantly increased in the alcohol-exposed E9.5 embryos compared to controls, and conversely, a trend of decreased expression in alcohol-exposed E9.5 and E16.5 placentas were observed. Furthermore, increased Snrpn expression in alcohol-exposed E9.5 embryos was also detected. Our study indicates that albeit no alterations in the DNA methylation levels of studied sequences were detected by EpiTYPER, early PAE can affect the expression of imprinted genes in both developing embryo and placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Marjonen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mia Toivonen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Lahti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Division of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nina Kaminen-Ahola
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
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72
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Legault LM, Bertrand-Lehouillier V, McGraw S. Pre-implantation alcohol exposure and developmental programming of FASD: an epigenetic perspective. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 96:117-130. [DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol during in-utero development can permanently change the developmental programming of physiological responses, thereby increasing the risk of neurological illnesses during childhood and later adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). There is an increasing body of evidence indicating that exposure to alcohol during gestation triggers lasting epigenetic alterations in offspring, long after the initial insult; together, these studies support the role of epigenetics in FASD etiology. However, we still have little information about how ethanol interferes with the fundamental epigenetic reprogramming wave (e.g., erasure and re-establishment of DNA methylation marks) that characterizes pre-implantation embryo development. This review examines key epigenetic processes that occur during pre-implantation development and especially focus on the current knowledge regarding how prenatal exposure to alcohol during this period could affect the developmental programming of the early stage pre-implantation embryo. We will also outline the current limitations of studies examining the in-vivo and in-vitro effects of alcohol exposure on embryos and underline the next critical steps to be taken if we want to better understand the implicated mechanisms to strengthen the translational potential for epigenetic markers for non-invasive early detection, and the treatment of newborns that have higher risk of developing FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Legault
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montreal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Virginie Bertrand-Lehouillier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montreal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Serge McGraw
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montreal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montreal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada
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73
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Li J, Wang Z, Qiu W, Yang JJ, Wang Q, Chen S, Pan H. The effect of interaction between EtOH dosage and exposure time on gene expression in DPSC. Genomics 2018; 111:500-507. [PMID: 29596963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol (EtOH) dosage and exposure time can affect gene expression. However, whether there exists synergistic effect is unknown. Here, we analyzed the hDPSC gene microarray dataset GSE57255 downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus and found that the interaction between EtOH dosage and exposure time on gene expression are statistically significant for two probes: 201917_s_at near gene SLC25A36 and 217649_at near gene ZFAND5. GeneMania showed that SLC25A36 and ZFAND5 were related to 20 genes, three of which had alcohol-related functions. WebGestalt revealed that the 22 genes were enriched in 10 KEGG pathways, four of which are related to alcoholic diseases. We explored the possible nonlinear interaction effect and got 172 gene probes with significant p-values. However, no significantly enriched pathways based on the 172 probes were detected. Our analyses indicated a possible molecular mechanism that could help explain why alcohol consumption has both deleterious and beneficial effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Li
- School of Software Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhirui Wang
- School of Software Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Weiliang Qiu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Ji-Jiang Yang
- Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qing Wang
- Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Pan
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
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74
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Elias B, Hanlon-Dearman A, Head B, Hicks GG. Translating to the Community (T2C): a protocol paper describing the development of Canada's first social epigenetic FASD biobank. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 96:275-287. [PMID: 29544064 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Translating to the Community (T2C) is a social biorepository designed to advance new diagnostic tools and realign community-clinical processes, with the aim to mitigate the short- and long-term impacts of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) as well as prenatal alcohol exposure and its co-morbidities and behaviors. In this paper, we describe the evolution of this repository as a new translational partnership to advance a precision-medicine approach to FASD. Key to its evolution was a partnership between academic researchers, Indigenous communities, families, and a regional diagnostic clinic. We further describe the rationale for social biobanking, the type of banking, ethical engagement of families, communities, and clinics, their roles in repository design, governance, translation, and research activities, types of data collected from families, and how the study data are managed, reported, and accessed. The repository design includes biological samples, social-contextual health-survey data, and clinical data (which are linkable to administrative data) from community and clinical cohorts of diagnosed children, children prenatally exposed but not diagnosed, children suspected to have had a prenatal exposure, and related siblings, biological parents, and unrelated children and their parents. From these cohorts and families, potential studies drawing on this data will shed light on various risk factors, social and biological pathways, and service utilization issues, with the aim to implement primary and secondary prevention and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Elias
- a Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
| | - Ana Hanlon-Dearman
- b Department of Paediatrics, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada; Manitoba FASD Centre/FASD Network, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3G1, Canada
| | - Betty Head
- c Cree Nation Tribal Health Centre, Star Program, The Pas, MB R9A 1M5, Canada
| | - Geoffrey G Hicks
- d Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Regenerative Medicine Program, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
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75
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Zarrei M, Hicks GG, Reynolds JN, Thiruvahindrapuram B, Engchuan W, Pind M, Lamoureux S, Wei J, Wang Z, Marshall CR, Wintle RF, Chudley AE, Scherer SW. Copy number variation in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Biochem Cell Biol 2018. [PMID: 29533680 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is characterized by a combination of neurological, developmental, and congenital defects that may occur as a consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure. Earlier reports showed that large chromosomal anomalies may link to FASD. Here, we examined the prevalence and types of copy number variations (CNVs) in FASD cases previously diagnosed by a multidisciplinary FASD team in sites across Canada. We genotyped 95 children with FASD and 87 age-matched, typically developing controls on the Illumina Human Omni2.5 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) array platform. We compared their CNVs with those of 10 851 population controls to identify rare CNVs (<0.1% frequency), which may include large unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities, that might be relevant to FASD. In 12/95 (13%) of the FASD cases, rare CNVs were found that impact potentially clinically relevant developmental genes, including the CACNA1H involved in epilepsy and autism, the 3q29 deletion disorder, and others. Our results show that a subset of children diagnosed with FASD have chromosomal deletions and duplications that may co-occur or explain the neurodevelopmental impairments in a diagnosed cohort of FASD individuals. Children suspected to have FASD with or without sentinel facial features of fetal alcohol syndrome and neurodevelopmental delays should potentially be evaluated by a clinical geneticist and possibly have genetic investigations as appropriate to exclude other etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Zarrei
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Geoffrey G Hicks
- b Regenerative Medicine Program, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - James N Reynolds
- c Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.,d Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Bhooma Thiruvahindrapuram
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Worrawat Engchuan
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Molly Pind
- b Regenerative Medicine Program, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Sylvia Lamoureux
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - John Wei
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Zhouzhi Wang
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Christian R Marshall
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Richard F Wintle
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada
| | - Albert E Chudley
- e Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,f Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- a The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 04A, Canada.,g Department of Molecular Genetics and McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
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76
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77
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Knopik VS, Marceau K, Bidwell LC, Rolan E. Prenatal substance exposure and offspring development: Does DNA methylation play a role? Neurotoxicol Teratol 2018; 71:50-63. [PMID: 29408446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The period of in utero development is one of the most critical windows during which adverse conditions and exposures may influence the growth and development of the fetus as well as its future postnatal health and behavior. Maternal substance use during pregnancy remains a relatively common but nonetheless hazardous in utero exposure. For example, previous epidemiological studies have associated prenatal substance exposure with reduced birth weight, poor developmental and psychological outcomes, and increased risk for diseases and behavioral disorders (e.g., externalizing behaviors like ADHD, conduct disorder, and substance use) later in life. Researchers are now learning that many of the mechanisms whereby adverse in utero exposures may affect key pathways crucial for proper fetal growth and development are epigenetic in nature, with the majority of work in humans considering DNA methylation specifically. This review will explore the research to date on epigenetic alterations tied to maternal substance use during pregnancy and will also discuss the possible role of DNA methylation in the robust relationship between maternal substance use and later behavioral and developmental sequelae in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie S Knopik
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Kristine Marceau
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - L Cinnamon Bidwell
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Emily Rolan
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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78
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Zika Virus Alters DNA Methylation of Neural Genes in an Organoid Model of the Developing Human Brain. mSystems 2018; 3:mSystems00219-17. [PMID: 29435496 PMCID: PMC5801341 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00219-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Scientific research on human neural stem cells and cerebral organoids has confirmed the congenital neurotropic and neurodestructive nature of the Zika virus. However, the extent to which prenatal ZIKV infection is associated with more subtle brain alterations, such as epigenetic changes, remains ill defined. Here, we address the question of whether ZIKV infection induces DNA methylation changes with the potential to cause brain disorders later in life. Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during early pregnancy can cause microcephaly and associated defects at birth, but whether it can induce neurologic sequelae that appear later in life remains unclear. Using a model of the developing brain based on embryonic stem cell-derived brain organoids, we studied the impact of ZIKV infection on the DNA methylation pattern across the entire genome in selected neural cell types. The virus unexpectedly alters the DNA methylome of neural progenitors, astrocytes, and differentiated neurons at genes that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of brain disorders, most prominently mental retardation and schizophrenia. Our results suggest that ZIKV infection during fetal development could lead to a spectrum of delayed-onset neuropsychiatric complications. IMPORTANCE Scientific research on human neural stem cells and cerebral organoids has confirmed the congenital neurotropic and neurodestructive nature of the Zika virus. However, the extent to which prenatal ZIKV infection is associated with more subtle brain alterations, such as epigenetic changes, remains ill defined. Here, we address the question of whether ZIKV infection induces DNA methylation changes with the potential to cause brain disorders later in life.
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79
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Lussier AA, Morin AM, MacIsaac JL, Salmon J, Weinberg J, Reynolds JN, Pavlidis P, Chudley AE, Kobor MS. DNA methylation as a predictor of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Clin Epigenetics 2018; 10:5. [PMID: 29344313 PMCID: PMC5767049 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0439-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a developmental disorder that manifests through a range of cognitive, adaptive, physiological, and neurobiological deficits resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. Although the North American prevalence is currently estimated at 2-5%, FASD has proven difficult to identify in the absence of the overt physical features characteristic of fetal alcohol syndrome. As interventions may have the greatest impact at an early age, accurate biomarkers are needed to identify children at risk for FASD. Building on our previous work identifying distinct DNA methylation patterns in children and adolescents with FASD, we have attempted to validate these associations in a different clinical cohort and to use our DNA methylation signature to develop a possible epigenetic predictor of FASD. Methods Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns were analyzed using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 array in the buccal epithelial cells of a cohort of 48 individuals aged 3.5-18 (24 FASD cases, 24 controls). The DNA methylation predictor of FASD was built using a stochastic gradient boosting model on our previously published dataset FASD cases and controls (GSE80261). The predictor was tested on the current dataset and an independent dataset of 48 autism spectrum disorder cases and 48 controls (GSE50759). Results We validated findings from our previous study that identified a DNA methylation signature of FASD, replicating the altered DNA methylation levels of 161/648 CpGs in this independent cohort, which may represent a robust signature of FASD in the epigenome. We also generated a predictive model of FASD using machine learning in a subset of our previously published cohort of 179 samples (83 FASD cases, 96 controls), which was tested in this novel cohort of 48 samples and resulted in a moderately accurate predictor of FASD status. Upon testing the algorithm in an independent cohort of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, we did not detect any bias towards autism, sex, age, or ethnicity. Conclusion These findings further support the association of FASD with distinct DNA methylation patterns, while providing a possible entry point towards the development of epigenetic biomarkers of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A. Lussier
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Alexander M. Morin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Julia L. MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Jenny Salmon
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - James N. Reynolds
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario Canada
| | - Paul Pavlidis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columnbia Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Albert E. Chudley
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
- Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
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80
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Boschen KE, Keller SM, Roth TL, Klintsova AY. Epigenetic mechanisms in alcohol- and adversity-induced developmental origins of neurobehavioral functioning. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2018; 66:63-79. [PMID: 29305195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The long-term effects of developmental alcohol and stress exposure are well documented in both humans and non-human animal models. Damage to the brain and attendant life-long impairments in cognition and increased risk for psychiatric disorders are debilitating consequences of developmental exposure to alcohol and/or psychological stress. Here we discuss evidence for a role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating these consequences. While we highlight some of the common ways in which stress or alcohol impact the epigenome, we point out that little is understood of the epigenome's response to experiencing both stress and alcohol exposure, though stress is a contributing factor as to why women drink during pregnancy. Advancing our understanding of this relationship is of critical concern not just for the health and well-being of individuals directly exposed to these teratogens, but for generations to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - S M Keller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - T L Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - A Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
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81
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Comasco E, Rangmar J, Eriksson UJ, Oreland L. Neurological and neuropsychological effects of low and moderate prenatal alcohol exposure. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2018; 222. [PMID: 28470828 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Several explanations for the diverse results in research on foetal alcohol spectrum disorders or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder might be at hand: timing, amount and patterns of alcohol exposure, as well as complex epigenetic responses. The genetic background of the offspring and its interaction with other prenatal and post-natal environmental cues are likely also of importance. In the present report, key findings about the possible effects of low and moderate doses of maternal alcohol intake on the neuropsychological development of the offspring are reviewed and plausible mechanisms discussed. Special focus is put on the serotonergic system within developmental and gene-environment frameworks. The review also suggests guidelines for future studies and also summarizes some of to-be-answered questions of relevance to clinical practice. Contradictory findings and paucity of studies on the effects of exposure to low alcohol levels during foetal life for the offspring's neuropsychological development call for large prospective studies, as well as for studies including neuroimaging and multi-omics analyses to dissect the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol exposure-related phenotypes and to identify biomarkers. Finally, it remains to be investigated whether any safe threshold of alcohol drinking during pregnancy can be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Comasco
- Department of Neuroscience; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - J. Rangmar
- Department of Psychology; University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
| | - U. J. Eriksson
- Department of Medical Cell Biology; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - L. Oreland
- Department of Neuroscience; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
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82
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Sharp GC, Arathimos R, Reese SE, Page CM, Felix J, Küpers LK, Rifas-Shiman SL, Liu C, Burrows K, Zhao S, Magnus MC, Duijts L, Corpeleijn E, DeMeo DL, Litonjua A, Baccarelli A, Hivert MF, Oken E, Snieder H, Jaddoe V, Nystad W, London SJ, Relton CL, Zuccolo L. Maternal alcohol consumption and offspring DNA methylation: findings from six general population-based birth cohorts. Epigenomics 2017; 10:27-42. [PMID: 29172695 PMCID: PMC5753623 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is sometimes associated with adverse outcomes in offspring, potentially mediated by epigenetic modifications. We aimed to investigate genome-wide DNA methylation in cord blood of newborns exposed to alcohol in utero. Materials & methods: We meta-analyzed information from six population-based birth cohorts within the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics consortium. Results: We found no strong evidence of association at either individual CpGs or across larger regions of the genome. Conclusion: Our findings suggest no association between maternal alcohol consumption and offspring cord blood DNA methylation. This is in stark contrast to the multiple strong associations previous studies have found for maternal smoking, which is similarly socially patterned. However, it is possible that a combination of a larger sample size, higher doses, different timings of exposure, exploration of a different tissue and a more global assessment of genomic DNA methylation might show evidence of association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma C Sharp
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Oral & Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ryan Arathimos
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Sarah E Reese
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health & Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Christian M Page
- Division for Mental & Physical Health, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Oslo Centre for Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Janine Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leanne K Küpers
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- The Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA.,The Population Sciences Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Kimberley Burrows
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health & Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Maria C Magnus
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,Division for Mental & Physical Health, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Liesbeth Duijts
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine & Allergology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Corpeleijn
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dawn L DeMeo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Augusto Litonjua
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Baccarelli
- Laboratory of Precision Environmental Biosciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harold Snieder
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wenche Nystad
- Division for Mental & Physical Health, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie J London
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health & Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Caroline L Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Luisa Zuccolo
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.,School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
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83
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Peek SL, Mah KM, Weiner JA. Regulation of neural circuit formation by protocadherins. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:4133-4157. [PMID: 28631008 PMCID: PMC5643215 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2572-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The protocadherins (Pcdhs), which make up the most diverse group within the cadherin superfamily, were first discovered in the early 1990s. Data implicating the Pcdhs, including ~60 proteins encoded by the tandem Pcdha, Pcdhb, and Pcdhg gene clusters and another ~10 non-clustered Pcdhs, in the regulation of neural development have continually accumulated, with a significant expansion of the field over the past decade. Here, we review the many roles played by clustered and non-clustered Pcdhs in multiple steps important for the formation and function of neural circuits, including dendrite arborization, axon outgrowth and targeting, synaptogenesis, and synapse elimination. We further discuss studies implicating mutation or epigenetic dysregulation of Pcdh genes in a variety of human neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. With recent structural modeling of Pcdh proteins, the prospects for uncovering molecular mechanisms of Pcdh extracellular and intracellular interactions, and their role in normal and disrupted neural circuit formation, are bright.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L Peek
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kar Men Mah
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Joshua A Weiner
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
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84
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Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, Rafiee G, Bashton M, Gohlke H, Enshaei A, Potluri S, Matthiesen J, Mather M, Taleongpong P, Chaston R, Silmon A, Curtis A, Lindsey JC, Crosier S, Smith AJ, Goschzik T, Doz F, Rutkowski S, Lannering B, Pietsch T, Bailey S, Williamson D, Clifford SC. Minimal methylation classifier (MIMIC): A novel method for derivation and rapid diagnostic detection of disease-associated DNA methylation signatures. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13421. [PMID: 29044166 PMCID: PMC5647382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13644-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid and reliable detection of disease-associated DNA methylation patterns has major potential to advance molecular diagnostics and underpin research investigations. We describe the development and validation of minimal methylation classifier (MIMIC), combining CpG signature design from genome-wide datasets, multiplex-PCR and detection by single-base extension and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, in a novel method to assess multi-locus DNA methylation profiles within routine clinically-applicable assays. We illustrate the application of MIMIC to successfully identify the methylation-dependent diagnostic molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma (the most common malignant childhood brain tumour), using scant/low-quality samples remaining from the most recently completed pan-European medulloblastoma clinical trial, refractory to analysis by conventional genome-wide DNA methylation analysis. Using this approach, we identify critical DNA methylation patterns from previously inaccessible cohorts, and reveal novel survival differences between the medulloblastoma disease subgroups with significant potential for clinical exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Schwalbe
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - D Hicks
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - G Rafiee
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Queen's University,, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
| | - M Bashton
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - A Enshaei
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - S Potluri
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - J Matthiesen
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - M Mather
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - P Taleongpong
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - A Silmon
- NewGene, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - A Curtis
- NewGene, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - J C Lindsey
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - S Crosier
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - A J Smith
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - T Goschzik
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - F Doz
- Institut Curie and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - S Rutkowski
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - B Lannering
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Gothenburg and the Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - T Pietsch
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - S Bailey
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - D Williamson
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - S C Clifford
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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85
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Marjonen H, Kahila H, Kaminen-Ahola N. rs10732516 polymorphism at the IGF2/H19 locus associates with a genotype-specific trend in placental DNA methylation and head circumference of prenatally alcohol-exposed newborns. Hum Reprod Open 2017; 2017:hox014. [PMID: 30895230 PMCID: PMC6276671 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hox014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) affect regulation of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2)/H19 locus in placenta and the growth-restricted phenotype of newborns? SUMMARY ANSWER PAE results in genotype-specific trends in both placental DNA methylation at the IGF2/H19 locus and head circumference (HC) of newborns. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY PAE can disturb development of the nervous system and lead to restricted growth of the head, even microcephaly. To clarify the etiology of alcohol-induced growth restriction, we focused on the imprinted IGF2/H19 locus known to be important for normal placental and embryonic growth. The expression of IGF2 and a negative growth controller H19 are regulated by the H19 imprinting control region (H19 ICR) with seven-binding sites for the methylation-sensitive zinc-finger regulatory protein CTCF. A single nucleotide polymorphism rs10732516 G/A in the sixth-binding site has shown to associate with genotype-specific DNA methylation profiles at the H19 ICR. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION By grouping 39 alcohol-exposed and 100 control samples according to rs10732516 polymorphism we explored alcohol-induced, genotype-specific changes in DNA methylation at the H19 ICR and the promoter region of H19 (H19 differentially methylated region). Also, IGF2 and H19 mRNA expression level in placenta as well as the phenotypes of newborns were examined. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS We explored alcohol-induced, genotype-specific changes in placental DNA methylation by MassARRAY EpiTYPER and allele-specific changes by bisulphite sequencing. IGF2 and H19 expression in placenta were analyzed by quantitative PCR and the HC, birthweight and birth length of newborns were examined using national growth charts. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We observed a consistent trend in genotype-specific changes in DNA methylation at H19 ICR in alcohol-exposed placentas. DNA methylation level in the normally highly methylated paternal allele of rs10732516 paternal A/maternal G genotype was decreased in alcohol-exposed placentas. In addition to decreased IGF2 mRNA expression in alcohol-exposed placentas of this specific genotype (P = 0.03), we observed significantly increased expression of H19 in relation to IGF2 when comparing all alcohol-exposed placentas to unexposed controls (P = 0.006). Furthermore, phenotypic examination showed a significant genotype-specific association between the alcohol exposure and HC of newborns (P = 0.001). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION Owing to the exceptional character of the alcohol-exposed human samples collected in this study, the sample size is restricted. An increased sample size and functional studies are needed to confirm these data and clarify the biological significance or causality of the observed associations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results suggest that the rs10732516 polymorphism associates with the alcohol-induced alterations in DNA methylation profiles and head growth in a parent-of-origin manner. We also introduce a novel genotype-specific approach for exploring environmental effects on the IGF2/H19 locus and ultimately on embryonic growth. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (258304), The Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Juho Vainio Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation and Arvo and Lea Ylppö Foundation. No competing interests are declared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Marjonen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Kahila
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nina Kaminen-Ahola
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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86
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Siu MT, Weksberg R. Epigenetics of Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 978:63-90. [PMID: 28523541 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), is diagnosed in 1 of every 68 children. ASD is incredibly heterogeneous both clinically and aetiologically. The etiopathogenesis of ASD is known to be complex, including genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors. Normal epigenetic marks modifiable by both genetics and environmental exposures can result in epigenetic alterations that disrupt the regulation of gene expression, negatively impacting biological pathways important for brain development. In this chapter we aim to summarize some of the important literature that supports a role for epigenetics in the underlying molecular mechanism of ASD. We provide evidence from work in genetics, from environmental exposures and finally from more recent studies aimed at directly determining ASD-specific epigenetic patterns, focusing mainly on DNA methylation (DNAm). Finally, we briefly discuss some of the implications of current research on potential epigenetic targets for therapeutics and novel avenues for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle T Siu
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Rosanna Weksberg
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. .,Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. .,Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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87
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Chudley AE. Diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: current practices and future considerations. Biochem Cell Biol 2017; 96:231-236. [PMID: 28746809 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper discusses the current state of knowledge and practice for diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The strengths and challenges of different models of diagnosis are compared. Some models require a team approach for evaluation, while other approaches assume that a clinician in his or her office provides a diagnosis based on a review of the patient's medical and social history, behaviour, and physical examination. The author reviews the emergence of new information from recent advances in genetics, imaging, and electrophysiology that has the potential to lead to changes in practice and improved reliability of an FASD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert E Chudley
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Manitoba, and the Children's Hospital, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics and Child Health and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Manitoba, and the Children's Hospital, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada
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88
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Mandal C, Halder D, Jung KH, Chai YG. Gestational Alcohol Exposure Altered DNA Methylation Status in the Developing Fetus. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18071386. [PMID: 28657590 PMCID: PMC5535879 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ethanol is well known as a teratogenic factor that is capable of inducing a wide range of developmental abnormalities if the developing fetus is exposed to it. Duration and dose are the critical parameters of exposure that affect teratogenic variation to the developing fetus. It is suggested that ethanol interferes with epigenetic processes especially DNA methylation. We aimed to organize all of the available information on the alteration of DNA methylation by ethanol in utero. Thus, we have summarized all published information regarding alcohol-mediated alterations in DNA methylation during gestation. We tried to arrange information in a way that anyone can easily find the alcohol exposure time, doses, sampling time, and major changes in genomic level. Manuscript texts will also represent the correlation between ethanol metabolites and subsequent changes in methylome patterns. We hope that this review will help future researchers to further examine the issues associated with ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanchal Mandal
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, 15588 Ansan, Korea.
| | - Debasish Halder
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, 15588 Ansan, Korea.
| | - Kyoung Hwa Jung
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, 15588 Ansan, Korea.
- Institute of Natural Science and Technology, Hanyang University, 15588 Ansan, Korea.
| | - Young Gyu Chai
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, 15588 Ansan, Korea.
- Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, 04763 Seoul, Korea.
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89
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Banik A, Kandilya D, Ramya S, Stünkel W, Chong YS, Dheen ST. Maternal Factors that Induce Epigenetic Changes Contribute to Neurological Disorders in Offspring. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:E150. [PMID: 28538662 PMCID: PMC5485514 DOI: 10.3390/genes8060150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the regulation of epigenetic factors, including chromatic reorganization, histone modifications, DNA methylation, and miRNA regulation, is critical for the normal development and functioning of the human brain. There are a number of maternal factors influencing epigenetic pathways such as lifestyle, including diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking, as well as age and infections (viral or bacterial). Genetic and metabolic alterations such as obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and thyroidism alter epigenetic mechanisms, thereby contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) such as embryonic neural tube defects (NTDs), autism, Down's syndrome, Rett syndrome, and later onset of neuropsychological deficits. This review comprehensively describes the recent findings in the epigenetic landscape contributing to altered molecular profiles resulting in NDs. Furthermore, we will discuss potential avenues for future research to identify diagnostic markers and therapeutic epi-drugs to reverse these abnormalities in the brain as epigenetic marks are plastic and reversible in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijit Banik
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
| | - Deepika Kandilya
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
| | - Seshadri Ramya
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
| | - Walter Stünkel
- Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, Singapore 117609, Singapore.
| | - Yap Seng Chong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
| | - S Thameem Dheen
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
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90
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Gavin DP, Grayson DR, Varghese SP, Guizzetti M. Chromatin Switches during Neural Cell Differentiation and Their Dysregulation by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:E137. [PMID: 28492482 PMCID: PMC5448011 DOI: 10.3390/genes8050137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure causes persistent neuropsychiatric deficits included under the term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Cellular identity emerges from a cascade of intrinsic and extrinsic (involving cell-cell interactions and signaling) processes that are partially initiated and maintained through changes in chromatin structure. Prenatal alcohol exposure influences neuronal and astrocyte development, permanently altering brain connectivity. Prenatal alcohol exposure also alters chromatin structure through histone and DNA modifications. However, the data linking alcohol-induced differentiation changes with developmental alterations in chromatin structure remain to be elucidated. In the first part of this review, we discuss the sequence of chromatin structural changes involved in neural cell differentiation during normal development. We then discuss the effects of prenatal alcohol on developmental histone modifications and DNA methylation in the context of neurogenesis and astrogliogenesis. We attempt to synthesize the developmental literature with the FASD literature, proposing that alcohol-induced changes to chromatin structure account for altered neurogenesis and astrogliogenesis as well as altered neuron and astrocyte differentiation. Together these changes may contribute to the cognitive and behavioral abnormalities in FASD. Future studies using standardized alcohol exposure paradigms at specific developmental stages will advance the understanding of how chromatin structural changes impact neural cell fate and maturation in FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Gavin
- Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 820 South Damen Avenue (M/C 151), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Dennis R Grayson
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Sajoy P Varghese
- Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 820 South Damen Avenue (M/C 151), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Marina Guizzetti
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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91
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Chastain LG, Sarkar DK. Alcohol effects on the epigenome in the germline: Role in the inheritance of alcohol-related pathology. Alcohol 2017; 60:53-66. [PMID: 28431793 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Excessive alcohol exposure has severe health consequences, and clinical and animal studies have demonstrated that disruptions in the epigenome of somatic cells, such as those in brain, are an important factor in the development of alcohol-related pathologies, such as alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). It is also well known that alcohol-related health problems are passed down across generations in human populations, but the complete mechanisms for this phenomenon are currently unknown. Recent studies in animal models have suggested that epigenetic factors are also responsible for the transmission of alcohol-related pathologies across generations. Alcohol exposure has been shown to induce changes in the epigenome of sperm of exposed male animals, and these epimutations are inherited in the offspring. This paper reviews evidence for multigenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of alcohol-related pathology through the germline. We also review the literature on the epigenetic effects of alcohol exposure on somatic cells in brain, and its contribution to AUDs and FASDs. We note gaps in knowledge in this field, such as the lack of clinical studies in human populations and the lack of data on epigenetic inheritance via the female germline, and we suggest future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy G Chastain
- The Endocrine Program, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 67 Poultry Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Dipak K Sarkar
- The Endocrine Program, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 67 Poultry Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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92
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Burrowes SG, Salem NA, Tseng AM, Balaraman S, Pinson MR, Garcia C, Miranda RC. The BAF (BRG1/BRM-Associated Factor) chromatin-remodeling complex exhibits ethanol sensitivity in fetal neural progenitor cells and regulates transcription at the miR-9-2 encoding gene locus. Alcohol 2017; 60:149-158. [PMID: 28438527 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a leading cause of intellectual disability worldwide. Previous studies have shown that developmental ethanol exposure results in loss of microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-9, and loss of these miRNAs, in turn, mediates some of ethanol's teratogenic effects in the developing brain. We previously found that ethanol increased methylation at the miR-9-2 encoding gene locus in mouse fetal neural stem cells (NSC), advancing a mechanism for epigenetic silencing of this locus and consequently, miR-9 loss in NSCs. Therefore, we assessed the role of the BAF (BRG1/BRM-Associated Factor) complex, which disassembles nucleosomes to facilitate access to chromatin, as an epigenetic mediator of ethanol's effects on miR-9. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNAse I-hypersensitivity analyses showed that the BAF complex was associated with both transcriptionally accessible and heterochromatic regions of the miR-9-2 locus, and that disintegration of the BAF complex by combined knockdown of BAF170 and BAF155 resulted in a significant decrease in miR-9. We hypothesized that ethanol exposure would result in loss of BAF-complex function at the miR-9-2 locus. However, ethanol exposure significantly increased mRNA transcripts for maturation-associated BAF-complex members BAF170, SS18, ARID2, BAF60a, BRM/BAF190b, and BAF53b. Ethanol also significantly increased BAF-complex binding within an intron containing a CpG island and in the terminal exon encoding precursor (pre)-miR-9-2. These data suggest that the BAF complex may adaptively respond to ethanol exposure to protect against a complete loss of miR-9-2 in fetal NSCs. Chromatin remodeling factors may adapt to the presence of a teratogen, to maintain transcription of critical miRNA regulatory pathways.
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93
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San-Cristobal R, Navas-Carretero S, Milagro FI, Riezu-Boj JI, Guruceaga E, Celis-Morales C, Livingstone KM, Brennan L, Lovegrove JA, Daniel H, Saris WH, Traczyk I, Manios Y, Gibney ER, Gibney MJ, Mathers JC, Martinez JA. Gene methylation parallelisms between peripheral blood cells and oral mucosa samples in relation to overweight. J Physiol Biochem 2017; 73:465-474. [DOI: 10.1007/s13105-017-0560-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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94
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Noor S, Sanchez JJ, Vanderwall AG, Sun MS, Maxwell JR, Davies S, Jantzie LL, Petersen TR, Savage DD, Milligan ED. Prenatal alcohol exposure potentiates chronic neuropathic pain, spinal glial and immune cell activation and alters sciatic nerve and DRG cytokine levels. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 61:80-95. [PMID: 28011263 PMCID: PMC5316367 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) may predispose individuals to secondary medical disabilities later in life. Animal models of PAE reveal neuroimmune sequelae such as elevated brain astrocyte and microglial activation with corresponding region-specific changes in immune signaling molecules such as cytokines and chemokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of moderate PAE on the development and maintenance of allodynia induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in adult male rat offspring. Because CCI allodynia requires the actions of glial cytokines, we analyzed lumbar spinal cord glial and immune cell surface markers indicative of their activation levels, as well as sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cytokines in PAE offspring in adulthood. While PAE did not alter basal sensory thresholds before or after sham manipulations, PAE significantly potentiated adult onset and maintenance of allodynia. Microscopic analysis revealed exaggerated astrocyte and microglial activation, while flow cytometry data demonstrated increased proportions of immune cells with cell surface major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII) and β-integrin adhesion molecules, which are indicative of PAE-induced immune cell activation. Sciatic nerves from CCI rats revealed that PAE potentiated the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) protein levels with a simultaneous robust suppression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. A profound reduction in IL-10 expression in the DRG of PAE neuropathic rats was also observed. Taken together, our results provide novel insights into the vulnerability that PAE produces for adult-onset central nervous system (CNS) pathological conditions from peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahani Noor
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Joshua J Sanchez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Arden G Vanderwall
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Melody S Sun
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Jessie R Maxwell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Lauren L Jantzie
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Timothy R Petersen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Erin D Milligan
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA.
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95
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Lussier AA, Weinberg J, Kobor MS. Epigenetics studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: where are we now? Epigenomics 2017; 9:291-311. [PMID: 28234026 PMCID: PMC5549650 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adverse in utero events can alter the development and function of numerous physiological systems, giving rise to lasting neurodevelopmental deficits. In particular, data have shown that prenatal alcohol exposure can reprogram neurobiological systems, altering developmental trajectories and resulting in increased vulnerability to adverse neurobiological, behavioral and health outcomes. Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are potential mediators for the reprogramming of neurobiological systems, as they may provide a link between the genome, environmental conditions and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review outlines the current state of epigenetic research in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, highlighting the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the reprogramming of neurobiological systems by alcohol and as potential diagnostic tools for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. We also present an assessment of the current limitations in studies of prenatal alcohol exposure, and highlight the future steps needed in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A Lussier
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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