201
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Aoued HS, Sannigrahi S, Doshi N, Morrison FG, Linsenbaum H, Hunter SC, Walum H, Baman J, Yao B, Jin P, Ressler KJ, Dias BG. Reversing Behavioral, Neuroanatomical, and Germline Influences of Intergenerational Stress. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:248-256. [PMID: 30292395 PMCID: PMC6326876 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stressors affect populations exposed to them as well as offspring. Strategies preventing the intergenerational propagation of effects of stress would benefit public health. Olfactory cue-based fear conditioning provides a framework to address this issue. METHODS We 1) exposed adult male mice to an odor, acetophenone (Ace) or Lyral (parental generation [F0]-Exposed), 2) trained mice to associate these odors with mild foot shocks (F0-Trained), and 3) trained mice to associate these odors with mild foot shocks and then extinguished their fear toward these odors with odor-only presentations (F0-Extinguished). We then examined sensitivity of future generation (F1) offspring to these odors, expression of M71 odorant (Ace-responsive) and MOR23 odorant (Lyral-responsive) receptor-expressing cell populations in F1 offspring, and DNA methylation at genes encoding the Ace- (Olfr151, Olfr160) and Lyral- (Olfr16) responsive receptors in F0 sperm. RESULTS Extinguishing fear toward Ace or Lyral of F0 male mice (F0-Extinguished) that had been fear conditioned with Ace or Lyral, respectively, results in F1-Extinguished offspring that do not demonstrate behavioral sensitivity to Ace or Lyral, respectively, and do not have enhanced representation for M71 or MOR23 odorant receptors in the olfactory system, as is observed in F1-Trained-Ace or F1-Trained-Lyral cohorts, respectively. The promoters of genes encoding Olfr151 and Olfr160 receptors are less methylated in F0-Trained-Ace sperm compared with F0-Exposed-Ace sperm. The Olfr16 promoter is less methylated in F0-Trained-Lyral sperm compared with F0-Exposed-Lyral sperm, and F0-Extinguished-Lyral sperm have methylation levels comparable to F0-Exposed-Lyral sperm. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the potential of using extinction-based behavioral strategies to reverse influences of parental stress in offspring and in the parental germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadj S. Aoued
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Soma Sannigrahi
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nandini Doshi
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Filomene G. Morrison
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Hannah Linsenbaum
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sarah C. Hunter
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Hasse Walum
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Justin Baman
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bing Yao
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Peng Jin
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Brian G. Dias
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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202
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Zou K, Ding G, Huang H. Advances in research into gamete and embryo-fetal origins of adult diseases. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2019; 62:360-368. [PMID: 30685828 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-018-9427-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The fetal and infant origins of adult disease hypothesis proposed that the roots of adult chronic disease lie in the effects of adverse environments in fetal life and early infancy. In addition to the fetal period, fertilization and early embryonic stages, the critical time windows of epigenetic reprogramming, rapid cell differentiation and organogenesis, are the most sensitive stages to environmental disturbances. Compared with embryo and fetal development, gametogenesis and maturation take decades and are more vulnerable to potential damage for a longer exposure period. Therefore, we should shift the focus of adult disease occurrence and pathogenesis further back to gametogenesis and embryonic development events, which may result in intergenerational, even transgenerational, epigenetic re-programming with transmission of adverse traits and characteristics to offspring. Here, we focus on the research progress relating to diseases that originated from events in the gametes and early embryos and the potential epigenetic mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Zou
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Guolian Ding
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China. .,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
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203
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Guida MC, Birse RT, Dall'Agnese A, Toto PC, Diop SB, Mai A, Adams PD, Puri PL, Bodmer R. Intergenerational inheritance of high fat diet-induced cardiac lipotoxicity in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2019; 10:193. [PMID: 30643137 PMCID: PMC6331650 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08128-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is strongly correlated with lipotoxic cardiomyopathy, heart failure and thus mortality. The incidence of obesity has reached alarming proportions worldwide, and increasing evidence suggests that the parents' nutritional status may predispose their offspring to lipotoxic cardiomyopathy. However, to date, mechanisms underlying intergenerational heart disease risks have yet to be elucidated. Here we report that cardiac dysfunction induced by high-fat-diet (HFD) persists for two subsequent generations in Drosophila and is associated with reduced expression of two key metabolic regulators, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL/bmm) and transcriptional cofactor PGC-1. We provide evidence that targeted expression of ATGL/bmm in the offspring of HFD-fed parents protects them, and the subsequent generation, from cardio-lipotoxicity. Furthermore, we find that intergenerational inheritance of lipotoxic cardiomyopathy correlates with elevated systemic H3K27 trimethylation. Lowering H3K27 trimethylation genetically or pharmacologically in the offspring of HFD-fed parents prevents cardiac pathology. This suggests that metabolic homeostasis is epigenetically regulated across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Clara Guida
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ryan Tyge Birse
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Biocompatibles Inc., 300 Four Falls Corporate Center, 300 Conshohocken State Road, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2998, USA
| | - Alessandra Dall'Agnese
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Paula Coutinho Toto
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Soda Balla Diop
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | - Peter D Adams
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Pier Lorenzo Puri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00142, Rome, Italy
| | - Rolf Bodmer
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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204
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Larose H, Shami AN, Abbott H, Manske G, Lei L, Hammoud SS. Gametogenesis: A journey from inception to conception. Curr Top Dev Biol 2019; 132:257-310. [PMID: 30797511 PMCID: PMC7133493 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Gametogenesis, the process of forming mature germ cells, is an integral part of both an individual's and a species' health and well-being. This chapter focuses on critical male and female genetic and epigenetic processes underlying normal gamete formation through their differentiation to fertilization. Finally, we explore how knowledge gained from this field has contributed to progress in areas with great clinical promise, such as in vitro gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Larose
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Haley Abbott
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Gabriel Manske
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
| | - Saher Sue Hammoud
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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205
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Perez MF, Lehner B. Intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in animals. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:143-151. [PMID: 30602724 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-018-0242-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Animals transmit not only DNA but also other molecules, such as RNA, proteins and metabolites, to their progeny via gametes. It is currently unclear to what extent these molecules convey information between generations and whether this information changes according to their physiological state and environment. Here, we review recent work on the molecular mechanisms by which 'epigenetic' information is transmitted between generations over different timescales, and the importance of this information for development and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Francisco Perez
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ben Lehner
- Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain. .,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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206
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Genetic Factors Affecting Sperm Chromatin Structure. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1166:1-28. [PMID: 31301043 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21664-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Spermatozoa genome has unique features that make it a fascinating field of investigation: first, because, with oocyte genome, it can be transmitted generation after generation; second, because of genetic shuffling during meiosis, each spermatozoon is virtually unique in terms of genetic content, with consequences for species evolution; and finally, because its chromatin organization is very different from that of somatic cells or oocytes, as it is not based on nucleosomes but on nucleoprotamines which confer a higher order of packaging. Histone-to-protamine transition involves many actors, such as regulators of spermatid gene expression, components of the nuclear envelop, histone-modifying enzymes and readers, chaperones, histone variants, transition proteins, protamines, and certainly many more to be discovered.In this book chapter, we will present what is currently known about sperm chromatin structure and how it is established during spermiogenesis, with the aim to list the genetic factors that regulate its organization.
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207
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Jarred EG, Bildsoe H, Western PS. Out of sight, out of mind? Germ cells and the potential impacts of epigenomic drugs. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30613387 PMCID: PMC6305226 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15935.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, determine the way DNA is packaged within the nucleus and regulate cell-specific gene expression. The heritability of these modifications provides a memory of cell identity and function. Common dysregulation of epigenetic modifications in cancer has driven substantial interest in the development of epigenetic modifying drugs. Although these drugs have the potential to be highly beneficial for patients, they act systemically and may have “off-target” effects in other cells such as the patients’ sperm or eggs. This review discusses the potential for epigenomic drugs to impact on the germline epigenome and subsequent offspring and aims to foster further examination into the possible effects of these drugs on gametes. Ultimately, the information gained by further research may improve the clinical guidelines for the use of such drugs in patients of reproductive age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen G Jarred
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Heidi Bildsoe
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Patrick S Western
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
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208
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Tomizawa SI, Kobayashi Y, Shirakawa T, Watanabe K, Mizoguchi K, Hoshi I, Nakajima K, Nakabayashi J, Singh S, Dahl A, Alexopoulou D, Seki M, Suzuki Y, Royo H, Peters AHFM, Anastassiadis K, Stewart AF, Ohbo K. Kmt2b conveys monovalent and bivalent H3K4me3 in mouse spermatogonial stem cells at germline and embryonic promoters. Development 2018; 145:145/23/dev169102. [PMID: 30504434 DOI: 10.1242/dev.169102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian male germline is sustained by a pool of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that can transmit both genetic and epigenetic information to offspring. However, the mechanisms underlying epigenetic transmission remain unclear. The histone methyltransferase Kmt2b is highly expressed in SSCs and is required for the SSC-to-progenitor transition. At the stem-cell stage, Kmt2b catalyzes H3K4me3 at bivalent H3K27me3-marked promoters as well as at promoters of a new class of genes lacking H3K27me3, which we call monovalent. Monovalent genes are mainly activated in late spermatogenesis, whereas most bivalent genes are mainly not expressed until embryonic development. These data suggest that SSCs are epigenetically primed by Kmt2b in two distinguishable ways for the upregulation of gene expression both during the spermatogenic program and through the male germline into the embryo. Because Kmt2b is also the major H3K4 methyltransferase for bivalent promoters in embryonic stem cells, we also propose that Kmt2b has the capacity to prime stem cells epigenetically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Ichi Tomizawa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Yuki Kobayashi
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Takayuki Shirakawa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kumiko Watanabe
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Keita Mizoguchi
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Ikue Hoshi
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kuniko Nakajima
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Jun Nakabayashi
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Advanced Medical Research Center, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Sukhdeep Singh
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Dahl
- Genome Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dimitra Alexopoulou
- Genome Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Masahide Seki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Hélène Royo
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine H F M Peters
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Konstantinos Anastassiadis
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - A Francis Stewart
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kazuyuki Ohbo
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
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209
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Epigenetic Erosion in Adult Stem Cells: Drivers and Passengers of Aging. Cells 2018; 7:cells7120237. [PMID: 30501028 PMCID: PMC6316114 DOI: 10.3390/cells7120237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In complex organisms, stem cells are key for tissue maintenance and regeneration. Adult stem cells replenish continuously dividing tissues of the epithelial and connective types, whereas in non-growing muscle and nervous tissues, they are mainly activated upon injury or stress. In addition to replacing deteriorated cells, adult stem cells have to prevent their exhaustion by self-renewal. There is mounting evidence that both differentiation and self-renewal are impaired upon aging, leading to tissue degeneration and functional decline. Understanding the molecular pathways that become deregulate in old stem cells is crucial to counteract aging-associated tissue impairment. In this review, we focus on the epigenetic mechanisms governing the transition between quiescent and active states, as well as the decision between self-renewal and differentiation in three different stem cell types, i.e., spermatogonial stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and muscle stem cells. We discuss the epigenetic events that channel stem cell fate decisions, how this epigenetic regulation is altered with age, and how this can lead to tissue dysfunction and disease. Finally, we provide short prospects of strategies to preserve stem cell function and thus promote healthy aging.
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210
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Jones BM, Robinson GE. Genetic accommodation and the role of ancestral plasticity in the evolution of insect eusociality. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb153163. [PMID: 30478152 PMCID: PMC6288071 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.153163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
For over a century, biologists have proposed a role for phenotypic plasticity in evolution, providing an avenue for adaptation in addition to 'mutation-first' models of evolutionary change. According to the various versions of this idea, the ability of organisms to respond adaptively to their environment through phenotypic plasticity may lead to novel phenotypes that can be screened by natural selection. If these initially environmentally induced phenotypes increase fitness, then genetic accommodation can lead to allele frequency change, influencing the expression of those phenotypes. Despite the long history of 'plasticity-first' models, the importance of genetic accommodation in shaping evolutionary change has remained controversial - it is neither fully embraced nor completely discarded by most evolutionary biologists. We suggest that the lack of acceptance of genetic accommodation in some cases is related to a lack of information on its molecular mechanisms. However, recent reports of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance now provide a plausible mechanism through which genetic accommodation may act, and we review this research here. We also discuss current evidence supporting a role for genetic accommodation in the evolution of eusociality in social insects, which have long been models for studying the influence of the environment on phenotypic variation, and may be particularly good models for testing hypotheses related to genetic accommodation. Finally, we introduce 'eusocial engineering', a method by which novel social phenotypes are first induced by environmental modification and then studied mechanistically to understand how environmentally induced plasticity may lead to heritable changes in social behavior. We believe the time is right to incorporate genetic accommodation into models of the evolution of complex traits, armed with new molecular tools and a better understanding of non-genetic heritable elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beryl M Jones
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Gene E Robinson
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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211
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Abstract
Inheritance of genomic DNA underlies the vast majority of biological inheritance, yet it has been clear for decades that additional epigenetic information can be passed on to future generations. Here, we review major model systems for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance via the germline in multicellular organisms. In addition to surveying examples of epivariation that may arise stochastically or in response to unknown stimuli, we also discuss the induction of heritable epigenetic changes by genetic or environmental perturbations. Mechanistically, we discuss the increasingly well-understood molecular pathways responsible for epigenetic inheritance, with a focus on the unusual features of the germline epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Bošković
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
| | - Oliver J. Rando
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
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212
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Experimental heatwaves compromise sperm function and cause transgenerational damage in a model insect. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4771. [PMID: 30425248 PMCID: PMC6233181 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07273-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is affecting biodiversity, but proximate drivers remain poorly understood. Here, we examine how experimental heatwaves impact on reproduction in an insect system. Male sensitivity to heat is recognised in endotherms, but ectotherms have received limited attention, despite comprising most of biodiversity and being more influenced by temperature variation. Using a flour beetle model system, we find that heatwave conditions (5 to 7 °C above optimum for 5 days) damaged male, but not female, reproduction. Heatwaves reduce male fertility and sperm competitiveness, and successive heatwaves almost sterilise males. Heatwaves reduce sperm production, viability, and migration through the female. Inseminated sperm in female storage are also damaged by heatwaves. Finally, we discover transgenerational impacts, with reduced reproductive potential and lifespan of offspring when fathered by males, or sperm, that had experienced heatwaves. This male reproductive damage under heatwave conditions provides one potential driver behind biodiversity declines and contractions through global warming.
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213
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Friedman JE. Developmental Programming of Obesity and Diabetes in Mouse, Monkey, and Man in 2018: Where Are We Headed? Diabetes 2018; 67:2137-2151. [PMID: 30348820 PMCID: PMC6198344 DOI: 10.2337/dbi17-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Childhood obesity and its comorbidities continue to accelerate across the globe. Two-thirds of pregnant women are obese/overweight, as are 20% of preschoolers. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is escalating, affecting up to 1 in 5 pregnant women. The field of developmental origins of health and disease has begun to move beyond associations to potential causal mechanisms for developmental programming. Evidence across species compellingly demonstrates that maternal obesity, diabetes, and Western-style diets create a long-lasting signature on multiple systems, including infant stem cells, the early immune system, and gut microbiota. Such exposures accelerate adipogenesis, disrupt mitochondrial metabolism, and impair energy sensing, affecting neurodevelopment, liver, pancreas, and skeletal muscle. Attempts to prevent developmental programming have met with very limited success. A challenging level of complexity is involved in how the host genome, metabolome, and microbiome throughout pregnancy and lactation increase the offspring's risk of metabolic diseases across the life span. Considerable gaps in knowledge include the timing of exposure(s) and permanence or plasticity of the response, encompassing effects from both maternal and paternal dysmetabolism. Basic, translational, and human intervention studies targeting pathways that connect diet, microbiota, and metabolism in mothers with obesity/GDM and their infants are a critical unmet need and present new challenges for disease prevention in the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob E Friedman
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, Department of Medicine; and Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
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214
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Colaco S, Sakkas D. Paternal factors contributing to embryo quality. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:1953-1968. [PMID: 30206748 PMCID: PMC6240539 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1304-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Advancing maternal and paternal age leads to a decrease in fertility, and hence, many infertile couples opt for assisted reproductive technologies [ART] to achieve biological parenthood. One of the key determinants of achieving a live outcome of ART, embryo quality, depends on both the quality of the oocyte and sperm that have created the embryo. Several studies have explored the effect of oocyte parameters on embryo quality, but the effects of sperm quality on the embryo have not been comprehensively evaluated. METHOD In this review, we assess the effect of various genetic factors of paternal origin on the quality and development of the embryo. RESULTS The effects of sperm aneuploidy, sperm chromatin structure, deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] fragmentation, role of protamines and histones, sperm epigenetic profile, and Y chromosome microdeletions were explored and found to negatively affect embryo quality. CONCLUSION We propose that careful assessment of spermatozoal parameters is essential to achieve embryo development and a healthy live birth. However, the heterogeneity in test results and the different approaches of assessing a single sperm parameter highlight the need for more research and the development of standardized protocols to assess the role of sperm factors affecting embryo quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy Colaco
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, JM Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India.
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215
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Khandwala YS, Baker VL, Shaw GM, Stevenson DK, Lu Y, Eisenberg ML. Association of paternal age with perinatal outcomes between 2007 and 2016 in the United States: population based cohort study. BMJ 2018; 363:k4372. [PMID: 30381468 PMCID: PMC6207919 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k4372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of advanced paternal age on maternal and perinatal outcomes in the United States. DESIGN Retrospective, population based cohort study. SETTING US. POPULATION 40 529 905 documented live births between 2007 and 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary perinatal outcomes were gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score at five minutes, admission to a neonatal intensive care unit, need for postpartum antibiotics, and seizures. Primary maternal outcomes were gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Secondary outcome was the number of preventable perinatal events. RESULTS Higher paternal age was associated with an increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and low Apgar score. After adjustment for maternal age, infants born to fathers aged 45 years or older had 14% higher odds of premature birth (odds ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.13 to 1.15), independent of gestational age, and 18% higher odds of seizures (1.18, 0.97 to 1.44) compared with infants of fathers aged 25 to 34 years. The odds of gestational diabetes was 34% higher (1.34, 1.29 to 1.38) in mothers with the oldest partners. 13.2% (95% confidence interval 12.5% to 13.9%) of premature births and 18.2% (17.5% to 18.9%) of gestational diabetes in births associated with older fathers were estimated to be attributable to advanced paternal age. CONCLUSIONS Advanced paternal age is associated with negative effects on both mothers and offspring. Given the relatively low prevalence of advanced paternal age in the US, population level impacts are currently modest. Nevertheless, as advanced paternal age has doubled in the US over the past generation, further investigation is warranted of the impact on birth outcomes and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash S Khandwala
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5118, USA
| | - Valerie L Baker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gary M Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David K Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ying Lu
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael L Eisenberg
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5118, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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216
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Shelton D, Reid N, Till H, Butel F, Moritz K. Responding to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Australia. J Paediatr Child Health 2018; 54:1121-1126. [PMID: 30294984 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.14152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant public health issue in Australia that is poorly diagnosed, chronic and costly. FASD is a diffuse acquired brain injury secondary to prenatal alcohol exposure. The prevalence rate of FASD among the general population in Australia is currently unknown; however, an Australian study in a selected high-risk population reported some of the highest rates of FASD in the world. A common misconception among clinicians is that a child must have 'the face' of FASD to have the disorder. This is incorrect. The three sentinel facial features only occur in the minority of individuals with FASD. FASD should be considered as a 'whole body' disorder as increased susceptibility to chronic health problems suggests suboptimal in utero environments places the individual at risk of later disease. Clinicians are reluctant to consider FASD as a possible diagnosis because of the concern of inducing stigma; however, this concern is neither supported by the evidence nor patient stories. The Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD is now available to assist health professionals in providing timely and accurate diagnoses, which can lead to improved outcomes via evidence-based intervention and is an important first step in future prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Shelton
- Community Child Health, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.,Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural Paediatric Society of Australasia (https://nbpsa.org/)
| | - Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haydn Till
- Community Child Health, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francoise Butel
- Community Child Health, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen Moritz
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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217
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Kristensen TN, Ketola T, Kronholm I. Adaptation to environmental stress at different timescales. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1476:5-22. [PMID: 30259990 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Environments are changing rapidly, and to cope with these changes, organisms have to adapt. Adaptation can take many shapes and occur at different speeds, depending on the type of response, the trait, the population, and the environmental conditions. The biodiversity crisis that we are currently facing illustrates that numerous species and populations are not capable of adapting with sufficient speed to ongoing environmental changes. Here, we discuss current knowledge on the ability of animals and plants to adapt to environmental stress on different timescales, mainly focusing on thermal stress and ectotherms. We discuss within-generation responses that can be fast and induced within minutes or hours, evolutionary adaptations that are often slow and take several generations, and mechanisms that lay somewhere in between and that include epigenetic transgenerational effects. To understand and predict the impacts of environmental change and stress on biodiversity, we suggest that future studies should (1) have an increased focus on understanding the type and speed of responses to fast environmental changes; (2) focus on the importance of environmental fluctuations and the predictability of environmental conditions on adaptive capabilities, preferably in field studies encompassing several fitness components; and (3) look at ecosystem responses to environmental stress and their resilience when disturbed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Nygaard Kristensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Bioscience, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tarmo Ketola
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ilkka Kronholm
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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218
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Yoshida K, Muratani M, Araki H, Miura F, Suzuki T, Dohmae N, Katou Y, Shirahige K, Ito T, Ishii S. Mapping of histone-binding sites in histone replacement-completed spermatozoa. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3885. [PMID: 30250204 PMCID: PMC6155156 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06243-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of histones are replaced by protamines during spermatogenesis, but small amounts are retained in mammalian spermatozoa. Since nucleosomes in spermatozoa influence epigenetic inheritance, it is important to know how histones are distributed in the sperm genome. Conflicting data, which may result from different conditions used for micrococcal nuclease (MNase) digestion, have been reported: retention of nucleosomes at either gene promoter regions or within distal gene-poor regions. Here, we find that the swim-up sperm used in many studies contain about 10% population of sperm which have not yet completed the histone-to-protamine replacement. We develop a method to purify histone replacement-completed sperm (HRCS) and to completely solubilize histones from cross-linked HRCS without MNase digestion. Our results indicate that histones are retained at specific promoter regions in HRCS. This method allows the study of epigenetic status in mature sperm. While a majority of histones are replaced by protamines during spermatogenesis, a small amount is retained in mammalian spermatozoa. Here the authors develop a method to purify histones from replacement-completed sperm (HRCS), completely solubilize histones from cross-linked HRCS without MNase digestion, and map histone-binding sites in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Yoshida
- Cluster for Pioneering Research, CREST Research Project of JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency), RIKEN Tsukuba Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0074, Japan.
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Department of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Araki
- Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Fumihito Miura
- Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takehiro Suzuki
- Biomolecular Characterization Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Naoshi Dohmae
- Biomolecular Characterization Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yuki Katou
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Shirahige
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Takashi Ito
- Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Ishii
- Cluster for Pioneering Research, CREST Research Project of JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency), RIKEN Tsukuba Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0074, Japan. .,Department of Functional Genomics, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
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219
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Stringer JM, Forster SC, Qu Z, Prokopuk L, O'Bryan MK, Gardner DK, White SJ, Adelson D, Western PS. Reduced PRC2 function alters male germline epigenetic programming and paternal inheritance. BMC Biol 2018; 16:104. [PMID: 30236109 PMCID: PMC6149058 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0569-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Defining the mechanisms that establish and regulate the transmission of epigenetic information from parent to offspring is critical for understanding disease heredity. Currently, the molecular pathways that regulate epigenetic information in the germline and its transmission to offspring are poorly understood. RESULTS Here we provide evidence that Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) regulates paternal inheritance. Reduced PRC2 function in mice resulted in male sub-fertility and altered epigenetic and transcriptional control of retrotransposed elements in foetal male germ cells. Males with reduced PRC2 function produced offspring that over-expressed retrotransposed pseudogenes and had altered preimplantation embryo cleavage rates and cell cycle control. CONCLUSION This study reveals a novel role for the histone-modifying complex, PRC2, in paternal intergenerational transmission of epigenetic effects on offspring, with important implications for understanding disease inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Stringer
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Ovarian Biology Laboratory, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, 3168, Australia
| | - Samuel C Forster
- Host-Microbiota Interactions Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
- Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Zhipeng Qu
- Bioinformatics and Computational Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Lexie Prokopuk
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
- Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - David K Gardner
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Stefan J White
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden Genome Technology Centre, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - David Adelson
- Bioinformatics and Computational Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Patrick S Western
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
- Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
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220
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Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms allow the establishment and maintenance of multiple cellular phenotypes from a single genomic code. At the initiation of development, the oocyte and spermatozoa provide their fully differentiated chromatin that soon after fertilization undergo extensive remodeling, resulting in a totipotent state that can then drive cellular differentiation towards all cell types. These remodeling involves different epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histones, non-coding RNAs, and large-scale chromatin conformation changes. Moreover, epigenetic remodeling is responsible for reprogramming somatic cells to totipotency upon somatic cell nuclear transfer/cloning, which is often incomplete and inefficient. Given that environmental factors, such as assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs), can affect epigenetic remodeling, there is interest in understanding the mechanisms driving these changes. We describe and discuss our current understanding of mechanisms responsible for the epigenetic remodeling that ensues during preimplantation development of mammals, presenting findings from studies of mouse embryos and when available comparing them to what is known for human and cattle embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo J Ross
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Rafael V Sampaio
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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221
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Hanna CW, Demond H, Kelsey G. Epigenetic regulation in development: is the mouse a good model for the human? Hum Reprod Update 2018; 24:556-576. [PMID: 29992283 PMCID: PMC6093373 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmy021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past few years, advances in molecular technologies have allowed unprecedented mapping of epigenetic modifications in gametes and during early embryonic development. This work is allowing a detailed genomic analysis, which for the first time can answer long-standing questions about epigenetic regulation and reprogramming, and highlights differences between mouse and human, the implications of which are only beginning to be explored. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In this review, we summarise new low-cell molecular methods enabling the interrogation of epigenetic information in gametes and early embryos, the mechanistic insights these have provided, and contrast the findings in mouse and human. SEARCH METHODS Relevant studies were identified by PubMed search. OUTCOMES We discuss the levels of epigenetic regulation, from DNA modifications to chromatin organisation, during mouse gametogenesis, fertilisation and pre- and post-implantation development. The recently characterised features of the oocyte epigenome highlight its exceptionally unique regulatory landscape. The chromatin organisation and epigenetic landscape of both gametic genomes are rapidly reprogrammed after fertilisation. This extensive epigenetic remodelling is necessary for zygotic genome activation, but the mechanistic link remains unclear. While the vast majority of epigenetic information from the gametes is erased in pre-implantation development, new insights suggest that repressive histone modifications from the oocyte may mediate a novel mechanism of imprinting. To date, the characterisation of epigenetics in human development has been almost exclusively limited to DNA methylation profiling; these data reinforce that the global dynamics are conserved between mouse and human. However, as we look closer, it is becoming apparent that the mechanisms regulating these dynamics are distinct. These early findings emphasise the importance of investigations of fundamental epigenetic mechanisms in both mouse and humans. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Failures in epigenetic regulation have been implicated in human disease and infertility. With increasing maternal age and use of reproductive technologies in countries all over the world, it is becoming ever more important to understand the necessary processes required to establish a developmentally competent embryo. Furthermore, it is essential to evaluate the extent to which these epigenetic patterns are sensitive to such technologies and other adverse environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney W Hanna
- Epigenetics programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannah Demond
- Epigenetics programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gavin Kelsey
- Epigenetics programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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222
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Arhondakis S, Varriale A. Distribution of Nucleosome-enriched Sequences of Human Sperm Chromatin Along Isochores. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH AND HYPOTHESIS IN MEDICINE 2018; 3:54-60. [DOI: 10.14218/erhm.2018.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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223
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Paternal diet programs offspring health through sperm- and seminal plasma-specific pathways in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:10064-10069. [PMID: 30150380 PMCID: PMC6176621 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1806333115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Parental health and diet at the time of conception determine the development and life-long disease risk of their offspring. While the association between poor maternal diet and offspring health is well established, the underlying mechanisms linking paternal diet with offspring health are poorly defined. Possible programming pathways include changes in testicular and sperm epigenetic regulation and status, seminal plasma composition, and maternal reproductive tract responses regulating early embryo development. In this study, we demonstrate that paternal low-protein diet induces sperm-DNA hypomethylation in conjunction with blunted female reproductive tract embryotrophic, immunological, and vascular remodeling responses. Furthermore, we identify sperm- and seminal plasma-specific programming effects of paternal diet with elevated offspring adiposity, metabolic dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota. The association between poor paternal diet, perturbed embryonic development, and adult offspring ill health represents a new focus for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis. However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains ill-defined. We have developed a mouse paternal low-protein diet (LPD) model to determine its impact on semen quality, maternal uterine physiology, and adult offspring health. We observed that sperm from LPD-fed male mice displayed global hypomethylation associated with reduced testicular expression of DNA methylation and folate-cycle regulators compared with normal protein diet (NPD) fed males. Furthermore, females mated with LPD males display blunted preimplantation uterine immunological, cell signaling, and vascular remodeling responses compared to controls. These data indicate paternal diet impacts on offspring health through both sperm genomic (epigenetic) and seminal plasma (maternal uterine environment) mechanisms. Extending our model, we defined sperm- and seminal plasma-specific effects on offspring health by combining artificial insemination with vasectomized male mating of dietary-manipulated males. All offspring derived from LPD sperm and/or seminal plasma became heavier with increased adiposity, glucose intolerance, perturbed hepatic gene expression symptomatic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and altered gut bacterial profiles. These data provide insight into programming mechanisms linking poor paternal diet with semen quality and offspring health.
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224
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Wilson S, Dere E, Klein D, Schorl C, Hall S, Boekelheide K. Localization of dimethylated histone three lysine four in the Rattus norvegicus sperm genome. Biol Reprod 2018; 99:266-268. [PMID: 29506216 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the precise localization of dimethylated histone three lysine four (H3K4me2) in mature rat sperm. Within nonintergenic-enriched regions, half of the DNA peaks associated with H3K4me2 retention fell in gene bodies and the other half in promoter regions. The most significant peaks near annotated DNA regions in the composite data included loci known to be associated with RNA metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and spermatogenesis. Regions associated with differential retention of H3K4me2 within gene bodies were significantly enriched for housekeeping gene and cell-cycle functionality. Proximal promoter-associated peaks were enriched for viral reproduction and cell cycle regulation genes, while Promoter1k and Promoter3k peaks were enriched for RNA metabolism functions. Further, homeobox- and kruppel-like factor motifs were among the most significantly enriched de novo and known motifs discovered within gene-associated H3K4me2 peaks. Motif analysis and native chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (nChIP-seq) peak calling indicated an instructive role for retained paternal histones in the epigenetic regulation of early embryonic development in the rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby Wilson
- Brown University, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Edward Dere
- Brown University, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - David Klein
- Brown University, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Christoph Schorl
- Brown University, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Susan Hall
- Brown University, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kim Boekelheide
- Brown University, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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225
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Frías-Lasserre D, Villagra CA, Guerrero-Bosagna C. Stress in the Educational System as a Potential Source of Epigenetic Influences on Children's Development and Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:143. [PMID: 30057532 PMCID: PMC6053942 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite current advances on the relevance of environmental cues and epigenetic mechanisms in biological processes, including behavior, little attention has been paid to the potential link between epigenetic influences and educational sciences. For instance, could the learning environment and stress determine epigenetic marking, affecting students' behavior development? Could this have consequences on educational outcomes? So far, it has been shown that environmental stress influences neurological processes and behavior both in humans and rats. Through epigenetic mechanisms, offspring from stressed individuals develop altered behavior without any exposure to traumatizing experiences. Methylated DNA and noncoding RNAs regulate neurological processes such as synaptic plasticity and brain cortex development in children. The malfunctioning of these processes is associated with several neurological disorders, and these findings open up new avenues for the design of enriched environments for education and therapy. In this article, we discuss current cases of stress and behavioral disorders found in youngsters, and highlight the importance of considering epigenetic processes affecting the development of cognitive abilities and learning within the educational environment and for the development of teaching methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Frías-Lasserre
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristian A. Villagra
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
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226
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Gestational exposure to chlordecone promotes transgenerational changes in the murine reproductive system of males. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10274. [PMID: 29980752 PMCID: PMC6035262 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28670-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors can affect epigenetic events during germline reprogramming and impose distinctive transgenerational consequences onto the offspring. In this study, we examined the transgenerational effects of chlordecone (CD), an organochlorine insecticide with well-known estrogenic properties. We exposed pregnant mice to CD from embryonic day 6.5 to 15.5 and observed a reduction in spermatogonia (SG) numbers in F3, meiotic defects in spermatocytes and decrease in spermatozoa number in the first and third generation of male progeny. The RNA qRT-PCR expression analysis in F1 and transcriptomics analysis in F3 males using the whole testes revealed changes in the expression of genes associated with chromosome segregation, cell division and DNA repair. The expression of the master regulator of pluripotency, Pou5f1, decreased in foetal and increased in adult F1, but not in F3 adult testes. Analysis of histone H3K4me3 distribution revealed widespread changes in its occupancy in the genome of F1 and F3 generations. We established that 7.1% of altered epigenetic marks were conserved between F1 and F3 generations. The overlapping changes common to F1 and F3 include genes implicated in cell adhesion and transcription factor activities functions. Differential peaks observed in F1 males are significantly enriched in predicted ESR1 binding sites, some of which we confirmed to be functional. Our data demonstrate that CD-mediated impairment of reproductive functions could be transmitted to subsequent generations.
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227
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Moggs J, Terranova R. Chromatin dynamics underlying latent responses to xenobiotics. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2018; 7:606-617. [PMID: 30090610 PMCID: PMC6062062 DOI: 10.1039/c7tx00317j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleiotropic xenobiotics can trigger dynamic alterations in mammalian chromatin structure and function but many of these are likely non-adverse and simply reflect short-term changes in DNA transactions underlying normal homeostatic, adaptive and protective cellular responses. However, it is plausible that a subset of xenobiotic-induced perturbations of somatic tissue or germline epigenomes result in delayed-onset and long-lasting adverse effects, in particular if they occur during critical stages of growth and development. These could include reprogramming, dedifferentiation, uncontrolled growth, and cumulative toxicity effects through molecular memory of prior xenobiotic exposures or altered susceptibility to subsequent xenobiotic exposures. Here we discuss the current evidence for epigenetic mechanisms underlying latent responses to xenobiotics, and the potential for identifying molecular epigenetic changes that are prodromal to overt morphologic or functional toxicity phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Moggs
- Preclinical Safety , Translational Medicine , Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research , Basel , Switzerland
| | - Rémi Terranova
- Preclinical Safety , Translational Medicine , Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research , Basel , Switzerland
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228
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Western PS. Epigenomic drugs and the germline: Collateral damage in the home of heritability? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 468:121-133. [PMID: 29471014 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The testis and ovary provide specialised environments that nurture germ cells and facilitate their maturation, culminating in the production of mature gametes that can found the following generation. The sperm and egg not only transmit genetic information, but also epigenetic modifications that affect the development and physiology of offspring. Importantly, the epigenetic information contained in mature sperm and oocytes can be influenced by a range of environmental factors, such as diet, chemicals and drugs. An increasing range of studies are revealing how gene-environment interactions are mediated through the germline. Outside the germline, altered epigenetic state is common in a range of diseases, including many cancers. As epigenetic modifications are reversible, pharmaceuticals that directly target epigenetic modifying proteins have been developed and are delivering substantial benefits to patients, particularly in oncology. While providing the most effective patient treatment is clearly the primary concern, some patients will want to conceive children after treatment. However, the impacts of epigenomic drugs on the male and female gametes are poorly understood and whether these drugs will have lasting effects on patients' germline epigenome and subsequent offspring remains largely undetermined. Currently, evidence based clinical guidelines for use of epigenomic drugs in patients of reproductive age are limited in this context. Developing a deeper understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms regulating the germline epigenome and its impact on inherited traits and disease susceptibility is required to determine how specific epigenomic drugs might affect the germline and inheritance. Understanding these potential effects will facilitate the development of informed clinical guidelines appropriate for the use of epigenomic drugs in patients of reproductive age, ultimately improving the safety of these therapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Western
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
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229
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Beal A, Rodriguez-Casariego J, Rivera-Casas C, Suarez-Ulloa V, Eirin-Lopez JM. Environmental Epigenomics and Its Applications in Marine Organisms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/13836_2018_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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230
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Abstract
Environmental factors, particularly during early life, are important for the later metabolic health of the individual. In our obesogenic environment, it is of major socio-economic importance to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to the risk of metabolic ill health. Increasing evidence from a variety of model organisms suggests that non-genetically determined phenotypes, including metabolic effects such as glucose intolerance and obesity, can be passed between generations, which encourages us to revisit heredity. Inheritance of altered epigenetic information through the germ line has been proposed as one plausible mechanism. Whether the germline epigenome can be altered by environmental conditions such as diet and the extent to which this occurs in humans are the subject of intense current interest and debate, especially given that extensive germline epigenetic reprogramming is known to occur. As epigenetic mechanisms are often highly conserved between organisms, studying epigenetic inheritance in plants and lower metazoans has the potential to inform our investigation in mammals. This Review explores the extent to which epigenetic inheritance contributes to heredity in these different organisms, whether the environment can affect epigenetic inheritance and whether there is any evidence for the inheritance of acquired phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Radford
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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231
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Inherited DNA methylation primes the establishment of accessible chromatin during genome activation. Genome Res 2018; 28:998-1007. [PMID: 29844026 PMCID: PMC6028135 DOI: 10.1101/gr.228833.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
For animals, epigenetic modifications can be globally or partially inherited from gametes after fertilization, and such information is required for proper transcriptional regulation, especially during the process of zygotic genome activation (ZGA). However, the mechanism underlying how the inherited epigenetic signatures affect transcriptional regulation during ZGA remains poorly understood. Here, we performed genome-wide profiling of chromatin accessibility during zebrafish ZGA, which is closely related to zygotic transcriptional regulation. We observed a clear trend toward a gradual increase in accessible chromatin during ZGA. Furthermore, accessible chromatin at the promoters displayed a sequential priority of emergence, and the locations of the accessible chromatin were precisely primed by the enrichment of unmethylated CpGs that were fully inherited from gametes. On the other hand, distal regions with high methylation levels that were inherited from the sperm facilitated the binding of DNA methylation-preferred transcription factors, such as Pou5f3 and Nanog, which contributed to the establishment of accessible chromatin at these loci. Our results demonstrate a model whereby inherited DNA methylation signatures from gametes prime the establishment of accessible chromatin during zebrafish ZGA through two distinct mechanisms.
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232
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Castillo J, Jodar M, Oliva R. The contribution of human sperm proteins to the development and epigenome of the preimplantation embryo. Hum Reprod Update 2018; 24:535-555. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmy017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Judit Castillo
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Jodar
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Oliva
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova, Barcelona, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel, Barcelona, Spain
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233
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Chan JC, Nugent BM, Bale TL. Parental Advisory: Maternal and Paternal Stress Can Impact Offspring Neurodevelopment. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:886-894. [PMID: 29198470 PMCID: PMC5899063 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Parental stress exposures are implicated in the risk for offspring neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, prompting critical examination of preconception and prenatal periods as vulnerable to environmental insults such as stress. Evidence from human studies and animal models demonstrates the influence that both maternal and paternal stress exposures have in changing the course of offspring brain development. Mechanistic examination of modes of intergenerational transmission of exposure during pregnancy has pointed to alterations in placental signaling, including changes in inflammatory, nutrient-sensing, and epigenetic pathways. Transmission of preconception paternal stress exposure is associated with changes in epigenetic marks in sperm, with a primary focus on the reprogramming of DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications, and small noncoding RNAs. In this review, we discuss evidence supporting the important contribution of intergenerational parental stress in offspring neurodevelopment and disease risk, and the currently known epigenetic mechanisms underlying this transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Bridget M Nugent
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tracy L Bale
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
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234
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Champroux A, Cocquet J, Henry-Berger J, Drevet JR, Kocer A. A Decade of Exploring the Mammalian Sperm Epigenome: Paternal Epigenetic and Transgenerational Inheritance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:50. [PMID: 29868581 PMCID: PMC5962689 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade has seen a tremendous increase in interest and progress in the field of sperm epigenetics. Studies have shown that chromatin regulation during male germline development is multiple and complex, and that the spermatozoon possesses a unique epigenome. Its DNA methylation profile, DNA-associated proteins, nucleo-protamine distribution pattern and non-coding RNA set up a unique epigenetic landscape which is delivered, along with its haploid genome, to the oocyte upon fertilization, and therefore can contribute to embryogenesis and to the offspring health. An emerging body of compelling data demonstrates that environmental exposures and paternal lifestyle can change the sperm epigenome and, consequently, may affect both the embryonic developmental program and the health of future generations. This short review will attempt to provide an overview of what is currently known about sperm epigenome and the existence of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of paternally acquired traits that may contribute to the offspring phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Champroux
- GReD, Laboratoire “Génétique, Reproduction and Développement,” UMR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julie Cocquet
- INSERM U1016, Institut Cochin, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Joëlle Henry-Berger
- GReD, Laboratoire “Génétique, Reproduction and Développement,” UMR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Joël R. Drevet
- GReD, Laboratoire “Génétique, Reproduction and Développement,” UMR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ayhan Kocer
- GReD, Laboratoire “Génétique, Reproduction and Développement,” UMR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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235
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Barouki R, Melén E, Herceg Z, Beckers J, Chen J, Karagas M, Puga A, Xia Y, Chadwick L, Yan W, Audouze K, Slama R, Heindel J, Grandjean P, Kawamoto T, Nohara K. Epigenetics as a mechanism linking developmental exposures to long-term toxicity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 114:77-86. [PMID: 29499450 PMCID: PMC5899930 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
A variety of experimental and epidemiological studies lend support to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept. Yet, the actual mechanisms accounting for mid- and long-term effects of early-life exposures remain unclear. Epigenetic alterations such as changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications and the expression of certain RNAs have been suggested as possible mediators of long-term health effects of environmental stressors. This report captures discussions and conclusions debated during the last Prenatal Programming and Toxicity meeting held in Japan. Its first aim is to propose a number of criteria that are critical to support the primary contribution of epigenetics in DOHaD and intergenerational transmission of environmental stressors effects. The main criteria are the full characterization of the stressors, the actual window of exposure, the target tissue and function, the specificity of the epigenetic changes and the biological plausibility of the linkage between those changes and health outcomes. The second aim is to discuss long-term effects of a number of stressors such as smoking, air pollution and endocrine disruptors in order to identify the arguments supporting the involvement of an epigenetic mechanism. Based on the developed criteria, missing evidence and suggestions for future research will be identified. The third aim is to critically analyze the evidence supporting the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in intergenerational and transgenerational effects of environmental exposure and to particularly discuss the role of placenta and sperm. While the article is not a systematic review and is not meant to be exhaustive, it critically assesses the contribution of epigenetics in the long-term effects of environmental exposures as well as provides insight for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Barouki
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Service de Biochimie Métabolomique et Protéomique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France.
| | - E Melén
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, and Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
| | - Z Herceg
- Epigenetics Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, F-69008 Lyon, France
| | - J Beckers
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Technische Universität München, Experimental Genetics, 85354 Freising, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - J Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - M Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - A Puga
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Y Xia
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | | | - W Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA MS575; Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - K Audouze
- INSERM UMR-S973, Molécules Thérapeutiques in silico, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - R Slama
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - J Heindel
- Program in Endocrine Disruption Strategies, Commonweal, Bolinas, CA, USA
| | - P Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - T Kawamoto
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - K Nohara
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
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236
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Zhang Y, Zhang X, Shi J, Tuorto F, Li X, Liu Y, Liebers R, Zhang L, Qu Y, Qian J, Pahima M, Liu Y, Yan M, Cao Z, Lei X, Cao Y, Peng H, Liu S, Wang Y, Zheng H, Woolsey R, Quilici D, Zhai Q, Li L, Zhou T, Yan W, Lyko F, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Duan E, Chen Q. Dnmt2 mediates intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired metabolic disorders through sperm small non-coding RNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2018; 20:535-540. [PMID: 29695786 PMCID: PMC5926820 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-018-0087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of RNAs (for example, messenger RNAs, non-coding RNAs) in sperm has opened the possibility that sperm may function by delivering additional paternal information aside from solely providing the DNA 1 . Increasing evidence now suggests that sperm small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) can mediate intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired phenotypes, including mental stress2,3 and metabolic disorders4-6. How sperm sncRNAs encode paternal information remains unclear, but the mechanism may involve RNA modifications. Here we show that deletion of a mouse tRNA methyltransferase, DNMT2, abolished sperm sncRNA-mediated transmission of high-fat-diet-induced metabolic disorders to offspring. Dnmt2 deletion prevented the elevation of RNA modifications (m5C, m2G) in sperm 30-40 nt RNA fractions that are induced by a high-fat diet. Also, Dnmt2 deletion altered the sperm small RNA expression profile, including levels of tRNA-derived small RNAs and rRNA-derived small RNAs, which might be essential in composing a sperm RNA 'coding signature' that is needed for paternal epigenetic memory. Finally, we show that Dnmt2-mediated m5C contributes to the secondary structure and biological properties of sncRNAs, implicating sperm RNA modifications as an additional layer of paternal hereditary information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Junchao Shi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Francesca Tuorto
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yusheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Reinhard Liebers
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongcun Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Maya Pahima
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Menghong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhonghong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Xiaohua Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongying Peng
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Shichao Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Huili Zheng
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Rebekah Woolsey
- Nevada Proteomics Center, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - David Quilici
- Nevada Proteomics Center, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Qiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Enkui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA.
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237
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A Caenorhabditis elegans protein with a PRDM9-like SET domain localizes to chromatin-associated foci and promotes spermatocyte gene expression, sperm production and fertility. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007295. [PMID: 29702639 PMCID: PMC5942854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand the tissue-specific regulation of chromatin state in cell-fate determination and animal development, we defined the tissue-specific expression of all 36 C. elegans presumptive lysine methyltransferase (KMT) genes using single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH). Most KMTs were expressed in only one or two tissues. The germline was the tissue with the broadest KMT expression. We found that the germline-expressed C. elegans protein SET-17, which has a SET domain similar to that of the PRDM9 and PRDM7 SET-domain proteins, promotes fertility by regulating gene expression in primary spermatocytes. SET-17 drives the transcription of spermatocyte-specific genes from four genomic clusters to promote spermatid development. SET-17 is concentrated in stable chromatin-associated nuclear foci at actively transcribed msp (major sperm protein) gene clusters, which we term msp locus bodies. Our results reveal the function of a PRDM9/7-family SET-domain protein in spermatocyte transcription. We propose that the spatial intranuclear organization of chromatin factors might be a conserved mechanism in tissue-specific control of transcription.
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238
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Zhang Y, Zhang X, Shi J, Tuorto F, Li X, Liu Y, Liebers R, Zhang L, Qu Y, Qian J, Pahima M, Liu Y, Yan M, Cao Z, Lei X, Cao Y, Peng H, Liu S, Wang Y, Zheng H, Woolsey R, Quilici D, Zhai Q, Li L, Zhou T, Yan W, Lyko F, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Duan E, Chen Q. Dnmt2 mediates intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired metabolic disorders through sperm small non-coding RNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2018. [DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41556-018-0087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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239
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Mendelson MM, Lyass A, O'Donnell CJ, D'Agostino RB, Levy D. Association of Maternal Prepregnancy Dyslipidemia With Adult Offspring Dyslipidemia in Excess of Anthropometric, Lifestyle, and Genetic Factors in the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA Cardiol 2018; 1:26-35. [PMID: 27437650 DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2015.0304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Dyslipidemia in young adults in the United States during their childbearing years is common, and the consequences for the next generation are poorly understood. Further understanding of the harmful consequences of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in young adults may help to inform population screening and management strategies. OBJECTIVE To examine whether adult levels of serum LDL-C are associated with maternal prepregnancy LDL-C levels beyond that attributable to inherited genetic sequence polymorphisms, diet, physical activity, and body mass index. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Framingham Heart Study is a multigenerational, population-based inception cohort initiated in 1948 in Framingham, Massachusetts. In this study of families, the analyses included 538 parent-offspring pairs with parental LDL-C levels measured in the study prior to the offspring's birth. Parental prebirth, parental concurrent, and adult offspring assessments occurred in 1971-1983, 1998-2001, and 2002-2005, respectively. Data analyses were conducted between March 1, 2013, and May 30, 2015. EXPOSURES Maternal prepregnancy LDL-C levels compared with paternal prepregnancy and parental concurrent LDL-C levels in association with adult offspring LDL-C levels. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Adult offspring LDL-C levels were examined as both a continuous and dichotomous outcome (using a threshold of 130 mg/dL). RESULTS Among the 538 parent-offspring pairs, there were 241 mother-offspring and 297 father-offspring pairs with a mean (SD) offspring age of 26 (3) years. Adult offspring LDL-C levels were associated with maternal prepregnancy LDL-C levels after adjustment for family relatedness and offspring lifestyle, anthropometric factors, and inherited genetic variants (β = 0.32 [SE, 0.05] mg/dL; P < .001). After multivariable adjustment, adults who had been exposed to elevated maternal prepregnancy LDL-C levels were at a 3.8 (95% CI, 1.5-9.8) times higher odds of having elevated LDL-C levels (P = .005) and had an adjusted LDL-C level of 18 mg/dL (95% CI, 9-27 mg/dL) higher than did those without such exposure. Maternal prepregnancy LDL-C levels explained 13% of the variation in adult offspring LDL-C levels beyond common genetic variants and classic risk factors for elevated LDL-C levels. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Adult offspring dyslipidemia is associated with maternal prepregnancy dyslipidemia in excess of measured lifestyle, anthropometric, and inherited genetic factors. The findings support the possibility of a maternal epigenetic contribution to cardiovascular disease risk in the general population. Further research is warranted to determine whether ongoing public health efforts to identify and reduce dyslipidemia in young adults prior to their childbearing years may have additional potential health benefits for the subsequent generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Mendelson
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 2Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts3Population Studies Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National H
| | - Asya Lyass
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 4Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christopher J O'Donnell
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 5Center for Population Genomics, Veteran's Administration Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts6Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Human Genomics Branch, Division of Intra
| | - Ralph B D'Agostino
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 4Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel Levy
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 3Population Studies Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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240
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An T, Zhang T, Teng F, Zuo JC, Pan YY, Liu YF, Miao JN, Gu YJ, Yu N, Zhao DD, Mo FF, Gao SH, Jiang G. Long non-coding RNAs could act as vectors for paternal heredity of high fat diet-induced obesity. Oncotarget 2018; 8:47876-47889. [PMID: 28599310 PMCID: PMC5564612 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18138] [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: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in epigenetic regulation, and abnormalities may lead to male infertility. To investigate whether lncRNAs are involved in intergenerational inheritance of obesity and obesity-induced decline in fertility, we divided mice into obesity (F0 mice fed a high-fat diet, F0-HFD) and non-obese (F0 mice fed normal chow, F0-NC) model groups and their male offspring (F1-HFD and F1-NC, respectively). We examined the differences in the expression levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the F0-HFD/F0-NC and F1-HFD/F1-NC groups. The results revealed similar expression patterns in the F1-HFD/F0-HFD groups at both the lncRNA and mRNA levels. The maximum difference in the lncRNA expression was observed between the F0-HFD and F0-NC groups. The differentially expressed lncRNA targets and mRNAs identified in our study are mainly involved in GnRH signalling pathway, metabolic process, and Hippo signalling pathway; similarly expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in F1-HFD/F0-HFD are closely linked with G-protein coupled receptor signalling pathway, pancreatic polypeptide receptor activity, and lysine biosynthesis, which may play an important role in the molecular mechanism of intergenerational inheritance of obesity. Furthermore, potential genes that might play important roles in the pathogenesis of obesity-related low fertility were revealed by lncRNA-and mRNA-interaction studies based on the microarray expression profiles. In conclusion, we found that lncRNA could be involved in obesity-induced infertility by expressing abnormalities, which could act as genetic vectors of paternal inheritance of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian An
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Teng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Teng
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Cheng Zuo
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Yun Pan
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Fei Liu
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Nan Miao
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Jie Gu
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Na Yu
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhao
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Fang-Fang Mo
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Hua Gao
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangjian Jiang
- Diabetes Research Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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241
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Cartier J, Smith T, Thomson JP, Rose CM, Khulan B, Heger A, Meehan RR, Drake AJ. Investigation into the role of the germline epigenome in the transmission of glucocorticoid-programmed effects across generations. Genome Biol 2018; 19:50. [PMID: 29636086 PMCID: PMC5891941 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1422-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early life exposure to adverse environments affects cardiovascular and metabolic systems in the offspring. These programmed effects are transmissible to a second generation through both male and female lines, suggesting germline transmission. We have previously shown that prenatal overexposure to the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) in rats reduces birth weight in the first generation (F1), a phenotype which is transmitted to a second generation (F2), particularly through the male line. We hypothesize that Dex exposure affects developing germ cells, resulting in transmissible alterations in DNA methylation, histone marks and/or small RNA in the male germline. Results We profile epigenetic marks in sperm from F1 Sprague Dawley rats expressing a germ cell-specific GFP transgene following Dex or vehicle treatment of the mothers, using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, small RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing for H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K27me3 and H3K9me3. Although effects on birth weight are transmitted to the F2 generation through the male line, no differences in DNA methylation, histone modifications or small RNA were detected between germ cells and sperm from Dex-exposed animals and controls. Conclusions Although the phenotype is transmitted to a second generation, we are unable to detect specific changes in DNA methylation, common histone modifications or small RNA profiles in sperm. Dex exposure is associated with more variable 5mC levels, particularly at non-promoter loci. Although this could be one mechanism contributing to the observed phenotype, other germline epigenetic modifications or non-epigenetic mechanisms may be responsible for the transmission of programmed effects across generations in this model. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13059-018-1422-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy Cartier
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Thomas Smith
- MRC Computational Genomics Analysis and Training Programme, University of Oxford, MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - John P Thomson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Catherine M Rose
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Batbayar Khulan
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Andreas Heger
- MRC Computational Genomics Analysis and Training Programme, University of Oxford, MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Richard R Meehan
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
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242
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Nilsson EE, Sadler-Riggleman I, Skinner MK. Environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2018; 4:dvy016. [PMID: 30038800 PMCID: PMC6051467 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Ancestral environmental exposures such as toxicants, abnormal nutrition or stress can promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and phenotypic variation. These environmental factors induce the epigenetic reprogramming of the germline (sperm and egg). The germline epimutations can in turn increase disease susceptibility of subsequent generations of the exposed ancestors. A variety of environmental factors, species and exposure specificity of this induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease is discussed with a consideration of generational toxicology. The molecular mechanisms and processes involved in the ability of these inherited epimutations to increase disease susceptibility are discussed. In addition to altered disease susceptibility, the potential impact of the epigenetic inheritance on phenotypic variation and evolution is considered. Observations suggest environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease is a critical aspect of disease etiology, toxicology and evolution that needs to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric E Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- Correspondence address. Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA. Tel: +1-509-335-1524; Fax: +1-509-335-2176; E-mail:
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243
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Jose AM. Replicating and Cycling Stores of Information Perpetuate Life. Bioessays 2018; 40:e1700161. [PMID: 29493806 PMCID: PMC7303024 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Life is perpetuated through a single-cell bottleneck between generations in many organisms. Here, I highlight that this cell holds information in two distinct stores: in the linear DNA sequence that is replicated during cell divisions, and in the three-dimensional arrangement of molecules that can change during development but is recreated at the start of each generation. These two interdependent stores of information - one replicating with each cell division and the other cycling with a period of one generation - coevolve while perpetuating an organism. Unlike the genome sequence, the arrangement of molecules, including DNA, RNAs, proteins, sugars, lipids, etc., is not well understood. Because this arrangement and the genome sequence are transmitted together from one generation to the next, analysis of both is necessary to understand evolution and origins of inherited diseases. Recent developments suggest that tools are in place to examine how all the information to build an organism is encoded within a single cell, and how this cell code is reproduced in every generation. See also the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/IdWEL-T6TPU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony M. Jose
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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244
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Barratt CLR, De Jonge CJ, Sharpe RM. 'Man Up': the importance and strategy for placing male reproductive health centre stage in the political and research agenda. Hum Reprod 2018; 33:541-545. [PMID: 29425298 PMCID: PMC5989613 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 1 in 20 young men today have sperm counts low enough to impair fertility, whereas this may not have been the case historically. The cause(s) of such a decline in male reproductive health is unknown, despite it being a global health issue. Concomitantly, little progress has been made in answering fundamental questions in andrology or in developing new diagnostic tools or alternative management strategies to ICSI in infertile men. We advocate formulation of a detailed roadmap for male reproductive health to facilitate development of a research agenda that highlights the present unmet needs and key unanswered questions, and seeks to deliver effective funding and investment to address them. This vision we term 'a Male Reproductive Health Ecosystem'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L R Barratt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Medical School, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | | | - Richard M Sharpe
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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245
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Ben Maamar M, Sadler-Riggleman I, Beck D, Skinner MK. Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Altered Sperm Histone Retention Sites. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5308. [PMID: 29593303 PMCID: PMC5871750 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23612-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of environmental toxicants and factors have been shown to induce the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and phenotypic variation. Epigenetic alterations in the germline (sperm or egg) are required to transmit transgenerational phenotypes. The current study was designed to investigate the potential role of histones in sperm to help mediate the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. The agricultural fungicide vinclozolin and the pesticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) were independently used to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. Purified cauda epididymal sperm were collected from the transgenerational F3 generation control and exposure lineage male rats for histone analysis. A reproducible core of histone H3 retention sites was observed using an H3 chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-Seq) analysis in control lineage sperm. Interestingly, the same core group of H3 retention sites plus additional differential histone retention sites (DHRs) were observed in the F3 generation exposure lineage sperm. Although new histone H3 retention sites were observed, negligible change in histone modification (methylation of H3K27me3) was observed between the control and exposure lineages. Observations demonstrate that in addition to alterations in sperm DNA methylation and ncRNA previously identified, the induction of differential histone retention sites (DHRs) also appear to be involved in environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Millissia Ben Maamar
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA.
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246
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247
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Sharpe RM. Programmed for sex: Nutrition–reproduction relationships from an inter-generational perspective. Reproduction 2018; 155:S1-S16. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is our biological reason for being. Our physiology has been shaped via countless millennia of evolution with this one purpose in mind, so that at birth we are ‘programmed for sex’, although this will not kick-start functionally until puberty. Our development from an early embryo is focused on making us fit to reproduce and is intimately connected to nutrition and energy stores. Fluctuations in food supply has probably been a key evolutionary shaper of the reproductive process, and this review hypothesizes that we have developed rapid, non-genomic adaptive mechanisms to such fluctuations to better fit offspring to their perceived (nutritional) environment, thus giving them a reproductive advantage. There is abundant evidence for this notion from ‘fetal programming’ studies and from experimental ‘inter-generational’ studies involving manipulation of parental (especially paternal) diet and then examining metabolic changes in resulting offspring. It is argued that the epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells that occurs during fetal life, after fertilisation and during gametogenesis provides opportunities for sensing of the (nutritional) environment so as to affect adaptive epigenetic changes to alter offspring metabolic function. In this regard, there may be adverse effects of a modern Western diet, perhaps because it is deficient in plant-derived factors that are proven to be capable of altering the epigenome, folate being a prime example; we have evolved in tune with such factors. Therefore, parental and even grandparental diets may have consequences for health of future generations, but how important this might be and the precise epigenetic mechanisms involved are unknown.
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248
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Abstract
Background Developmental programming of the embryo is controlled by genetic information but also dictated by epigenetic information contained in spermatozoa. Lifestyle and environmental factors not only influence health in one individual but can also affect the phenotype of the following generations. This is mediated via epigenetic inheritance i.e., gametic transmission of environmentally-driven epigenetic information to the offspring. Evidence is accumulating that preconceptional exposure to certain lifestyle and environmental factors, such as diet, physical activity, and smoking, affects the phenotype of the next generation through remodeling of the epigenetic blueprint of spermatozoa. Scope of Review This review will summarize current knowledge about the different epigenetic signals in sperm that are responsive to environmental and lifestyle factors and are capable of affecting embryonic development and the phenotype of the offspring later in life. Major conclusions Like somatic cells, the epigenome of spermatozoa has proven to be dynamically reactive to a wide variety of environmental and lifestyle stressors. The functional consequence on embryogenesis and phenotype of the next generation remains largely unknown. However, strong evidence of environmentally-driven sperm-borne epigenetic factors, which are capable of altering the phenotype of the next generation, is emerging on a large scale.
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249
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Skinner MK, Ben Maamar M, Sadler-Riggleman I, Beck D, Nilsson E, McBirney M, Klukovich R, Xie Y, Tang C, Yan W. Alterations in sperm DNA methylation, non-coding RNA and histone retention associate with DDT-induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. Epigenetics Chromatin 2018; 11:8. [PMID: 29482626 PMCID: PMC5827984 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-018-0178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental toxicants such as DDT have been shown to induce the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease (e.g., obesity) through the germline. The current study was designed to investigate the DDT-induced concurrent alterations of a number of different epigenetic processes including DNA methylation, non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and histone retention in sperm. METHODS Gestating females were exposed transiently to DDT during fetal gonadal development, and then, the directly exposed F1 generation, the directly exposed germline F2 generation and the transgenerational F3 generation sperm were investigated. RESULTS DNA methylation and ncRNA were altered in each generation sperm with the direct exposure F1 and F2 generations being predominantly distinct from the F3 generation epimutations. The piRNA and small tRNA were the most predominant classes of ncRNA altered. A highly conserved set of histone retention sites were found in the control lineage generations which was not significantly altered between generations, but a large number of new histone retention sites were found only in the transgenerational generation DDT lineage sperm. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, all three different epigenetic processes were concurrently altered as DDT induced the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of sperm epimutations. The direct exposure generations sperm epigenetic alterations were distinct from the transgenerational sperm epimutations. The genomic features and gene associations with the epimutations were investigated to help elucidate the integration of these different epigenetic processes. Observations demonstrate all three epigenetic processes are involved in transgenerational inheritance. The different epigenetic processes appear to be integrated in mediating the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA.
| | - Millissia Ben Maamar
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Eric Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Margaux McBirney
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Rachel Klukovich
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Yeming Xie
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Chong Tang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
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250
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Demoinet E, Roy R. Surviving Starvation: AMPK Protects Germ Cell Integrity by Targeting Multiple Epigenetic Effectors. Bioessays 2018; 40. [PMID: 29430674 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700095] [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] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Acute starvation can have long-term consequences that are mediated through epigenetic change. Some of these changes are affected by the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the absence of AMPK during a period of starvation in an early larval stage results in developmental defects following their recovery on food, while many of them become sterile. Moreover, the loss of AMPK during this quiescent period results in transgenerational phenotypes that can become progressively worse with each successive generation. Our recent data describe a chromatin-based mechanism of how AMPK mediates adjustment to acute starvation in the germ cells, however, the heritable aspect of this AMPK mutant phenotype remains unresolved. Here, we explore how AMPK might affect this process and speculate how the initial transcription that occurs in the germ cells may adversely affect subsequent germline gene expression and/or genomic integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Demoinet
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1.,Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), CNRS, INSERM, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, 06100, Nice, France
| | - Richard Roy
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1
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