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Meng B, He J, Cao W, Zhang Y, Qi J, Luo S, Shen C, Zhao J, Xue Y, Qu P, Liu E. Paternal high-fat diet altered H3K36me3 pattern of pre-implantation embryos. ZYGOTE 2024; 32:1-6. [PMID: 38018398 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199423000448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The global transition towards diets high in calories has contributed to 2.1 billion people becoming overweight, or obese, which damages male reproduction and harms offspring. Recently, more and more studies have shown that paternal exposure to stress closely affects the health of offspring in an intergenerational and transgenerational way. SET Domain Containing 2 (SETD2), a key epigenetic gene, is highly conserved among species, is a crucial methyltransferase for converting histone 3 lysine 36 dimethylation (H3K36me2) into histone 3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), and plays an important regulator in the response to stress. In this study, we compared patterns of SETD2 expression and the H3K36me3 pattern in pre-implantation embryos derived from normal or obese mice induced by high diet. The results showed that SETD2 mRNA was significantly higher in the high-fat diet (HFD) group than the control diet (CD) group at the 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, and 16-cell stages, and at the morula and blastocyst stages. The relative levels of H3K36me3 in the HFD group at the 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 16-cell, morula stage, and blastocyst stage were significantly higher than in the CD group. These results indicated that dietary changes in parental generation (F0) male mice fed a HFD were traceable in SETD2/H3K36me3 in embryos, and that a paternal high-fat diet brings about adverse effects for offspring that might be related to SETD2/H3K36me3, which throws new light on the effect of paternal obesity on offspring from an epigenetic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Meng
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- The Assisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiahui He
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenbin Cao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanru Zhang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, China
| | - Jia Qi
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, China
| | - Shiwei Luo
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chong Shen
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ying Xue
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pengxiang Qu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, China
| | - Enqi Liu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, China
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Jones SL, De Braga V, Caccese C, Lew J, Elgbeili G, Castellanos-Ryan N, Parent S, Muckle G, Herba CM, Fraser WD, Ducharme S, Barnwell J, Trasler J, Séguin JR, Nguyen TV, Montreuil TC. Prenatal paternal anxiety symptoms predict child DHEA levels and internalizing symptoms during adrenarche. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1217846. [PMID: 38239262 PMCID: PMC10794355 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1217846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study examined (1) whether measures of paternal anxious and depressive symptoms collected prenatally and during a follow-up assessment when the child was in middle childhood, predict child neuroendocrine outcomes, and (2) whether neuroendocrine outcomes are intermediate factors between paternal mental health and child cognitive/behavioral outcomes. Middle childhood coincides with increased autonomy as the child transitions into grade school, and with adrenarche, as the maturing adrenal gland increases secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated metabolite (DHEA-S), hormones that are implicated in corticolimbic development which regulate emotions and cognition. Methods Participants were recruited from a subsample of a large prospective birth cohort study (3D study). We conducted a follow-up study when children were 6-8 years old (N = 61 families, 36 boys, 25 girls). Parental symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression were assessed via validated self-report questionnaires: prenatally using an in-house anxiety questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and at the follow up, using the Beck Anxiety and Beck Depression Inventories. Children provided salivary hormone samples, and their pituitary gland volume was measured from structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. Child behaviors were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and cognitive outcomes using the WISC-V. Multiple regression analyses were used to test whether paternal mental health symptoms assessed prenatally and during childhood are associated with child neuroendocrine outcomes, adjusting for maternal mental health and child sex. Indirect-effect models assessed whether neuroendocrine factors are important intermediates that link paternal mental health and cognitive/behavioral outcomes. Results (1) Fathers' prenatal anxiety symptoms predicted lower DHEA levels in the children, but not pituitary volume. (2) Higher prenatal paternal anxiety symptoms predicted higher child internalizing symptoms via an indirect pathway of lower child DHEA. No associations were detected between paternal anxiety symptoms measured in childhood, and neuroendocrine outcomes. No child sex differences were detected on any measure. Conclusion These results highlight the often-overlooked role of paternal factors during pregnancy on child development, suggesting that paternal prenatal anxiety symptoms are associated with child neuroendocrine function and in turn internalizing symptoms that manifest at least up to middle childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Research Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Victoria De Braga
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- School of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Christina Caccese
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jimin Lew
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Elgbeili
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Research Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Sophie Parent
- School of Psychoeducation, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec, School of Psychology, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Catherine M. Herba
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - William D. Fraser
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Ducharme
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Research Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julia Barnwell
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Human Genetics and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jacquetta Trasler
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Human Genetics and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean R. Séguin
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tuong-Vi Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Reproductive Psychiatry Program, McGill University Health Centre, Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tina C. Montreuil
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Capobianco E, Pirrone I. Paternal programming of fetoplacental and offspring metabolic disorders. Placenta 2023; 141:71-77. [PMID: 37355440 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
The alarming increase in the prevalence of metabolic pathologies is of worldwide concern and has been linked not only to genetic factors but also to a large number of non-genetic factors. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the study of the programming of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, by paternal exposure, a paradigm termed "Paternal Origins of Health and Disease" (POHaD). This term derives from the better known "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease" (DOHaD), which focuses on the involvement of the maternal intrauterine environment and complications during pregnancy associated with the health and disease of the offspring. Studies on paternal programming have documented environmentally induced epigenetic modifications in the male germline and in seminal plasma, which lead to intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypes, evident already during fetoplacental development. Studies with animal models at both ends of the nutritional spectrum (undernutrition or overnutrition) have been performed to understand the possible mechanisms and signaling pathways leading to the programming of metabolic disorders by exploring epigenetic changes throughout the life of the offspring. The aim of this review was to address the evidence of the programming of fetoplacental developmental alterations and metabolic pathologies in the offspring of males with metabolic disorders and unhealthy exposures, highlighting the mechanisms involved in such programming and looking for paternal interventions to reduce negative health outcomes in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelina Capobianco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Laboratory of Reproduction and Metabolism, CEFYBO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Irune Pirrone
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Laboratory of Reproduction and Metabolism, CEFYBO, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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4
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Shi Q, Qi K. Developmental origins of health and disease: Impact of paternal nutrition and lifestyle. Pediatr Investig 2023; 7:111-131. [PMID: 37324600 PMCID: PMC10262906 DOI: 10.1002/ped4.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Most epidemiological and experimental studies have focused on maternal influences on offspring's health. The impact of maternal undernutrition, overnutrition, hypoxia, and stress is linked to adverse offspring outcomes across a range of systems including cardiometabolic, respiratory, endocrine, and reproduction among others. During the past decade, it has become evident that paternal environmental factors are also linked to the development of diseases in offspring. In this article, we aim to outline the current understanding of the impact of male health and environmental exposure on offspring development, health, and disease and explore the mechanisms underlying the paternal programming of offspring health. The available evidence suggests that poor paternal pre-conceptional nutrition and lifestyle, and advanced age can increase the risk of negative outcomes in offspring, via both direct (genetic/epigenetic) and indirect (maternal uterine environment) effects. Beginning at preconception, and during utero and the early life after birth, cells acquire an epigenetic memory of the early exposure which can be influential across the entire lifespan and program a child's health. Potentially not only mothers but also fathers should be advised that maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is important to improve offspring health as well as the parental health status. However, the evidence is mostly based on animal studies, and well-designed human studies are urgently needed to verify findings from animal data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyu Shi
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's HospitalCapital Medical University, National Center for Children's HealthBeijingChina
| | - Kemin Qi
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Development, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's HospitalCapital Medical University, National Center for Children's HealthBeijingChina
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Svanes C, Holloway JW, Krauss-Etschmann S. Preconception origins of asthma, allergies and lung function: The influence of previous generations on the respiratory health of our children. J Intern Med 2023; 293:531-549. [PMID: 36861185 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Emerging research suggests that exposures occurring years before conception are important determinants of the health of future offspring and subsequent generations. Environmental exposures of both the father and mother, or exposure to disease processes such as obesity or infections, may influence germline cells and thereby cause a cascade of health outcomes in multiple subsequent generations. There is now increasing evidence that respiratory health is influenced by parental exposures that occur long before conception. The strongest evidence relates adolescent tobacco smoking and overweight in future fathers to increased asthma and lower lung function in their offspring, supported by evidence on parental preconception occupational exposures and air pollution. Although this literature is still sparse, the epidemiological analyses reveal strong effects that are consistent across studies with different designs and methodologies. The results are strengthened by mechanistic research from animal models and (scarce) human studies that have identified molecular mechanisms that can explain the epidemiological findings, suggesting transfer of epigenetic signals through germline cells, with susceptibility windows in utero (both male and female line) and prepuberty (male line). The concept that our lifestyles and behaviours may influence the health of our future children represents a new paradigm. This raises concerns for future health in decades to come with respect to harmful exposures but may also open for radical rethinking of preventive strategies that may improve health in multiple generations, reverse the imprint of our parents and forefathers, and underpin strategies that can break the vicious circle of propagation of health inequalities across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Svanes
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - John W Holloway
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Susanne Krauss-Etschmann
- Division of Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany.,Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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6
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Deshpande SSS, Bera P, Khambata K, Balasinor NH. Paternal obesity induces epigenetic aberrations and gene expression changes in placenta and fetus. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:109-126. [PMID: 36541371 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Paternal epigenome regulates placental and fetal growth. However, the effect of paternal obesity on placenta and its subsequent effect on the fetus via sperm remains unknown. We previously discovered abnormal methylation of imprinted genes involved in placental and fetal development in the spermatozoa of obese rats. In the present study, elaborate epigenetic characterization of sperm, placenta, and fetus was performed. For 16 weeks, male rats were fed either control or a high-fat diet. Following mating studies, sperm, placenta, and fetal tissue were collected. Significant changes were observed in placental weights, morphology, and cell populations. Methylation status of imprinted genes-Igf2, Peg3, Cdkn1c, and Gnas in spermatozoa, correlated with their expression in the placenta and fetus. Placental DNA methylating enzymes and 5-methylCytosine levels increased. Furthermore, in spermatozoa, DNA methylation of a few genes involved in pathways associated with placental endocrine function-gonadotropin-releasing hormone, prolactin, estrogen, and vascular endothelial growth factor, correlated with their expression in placenta and fetus. Changes in histone-modifying enzymes were also observed in the placenta. Histone marks H3K4me3, H3K9me3, and H4ac were downregulated, while H3K27me3 and H3ac were upregulated in placentas derived from obese male rats. This study shows that obesity-related changes in sperm methylome translate into abnormal expression in the F1-placenta fathered by the obese male, presumably affecting placental and fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharvari S S Deshpande
- Neuroendocrinology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.,Integrative Physiology and Metabolism Section, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Priyanka Bera
- Gamete Immunobiology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Kushaan Khambata
- Gamete Immunobiology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Nafisa H Balasinor
- Neuroendocrinology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
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Shi Q, Liu X, Fan X, Wang R, Qi K. Paternal dietary ratio of n-6: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids programs offspring leptin expression and gene imprinting in mice. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1043876. [PMID: 36618698 PMCID: PMC9816484 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1043876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study determined the effects of the paternal dietary ratio of n-6: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on leptin expression in the offspring and associated gene imprinting in a mouse model. Methods Three- to four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (F0) were fed an n-3 PUFA-deficient (n-3 D) diet, a diet with normal n-3 PUFA content (n-3 N; n-6: n-3 = 4.3:1), or a diet with a high n-3 PUFA content (n-3 H; n-6: n-3 = 1.5:1) for 8 weeks. Two subsequent generations were generated by mating F0 and F1 male mice with 10-week-old virgin female C57 BL/6J mice, to produce F1 and F2 offspring. Results Compared to the paternal n-3 D diet, paternal n-3 N and n-3 H diets reduced adipose mRNA expression of leptin (Lep) and its plasma concentrations in juvenile F1 male and female offspring, and adult F1 male and F2 female offspring, with upregulated Lep receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. Meanwhile, paternal n-3 N and n-3 H diets altered the expression of the imprinted genes H19, Igf2, Igf2r, Plagl1, Cdkn1c, Kcnq1ot1, Peg3, and Grb10 in the adipose tissue of juvenile and adult F1 males, with almost no effects on F1 females, while more effects were observed in the adult F2 females than F2 males. Principal component analysis verified that Plagl1, Cdkn1c, and Kcnq1ot1 contributed the most to variation in adipose tissue expression in all offspring. Some of these genes (Plagl1, Cdkn1c, Kcnq1ot1, Peg3, and Grb10) were altered by the paternal n-3 N and n-3 H diets in the F1 and F2 generation testes as well. Furthermore, adipose Lep expression was positively correlated with expressions of H19, Igf2r, Plagl1, and Kcnq1ot1 in juvenile F1 males and females, negatively correlated with the Kcnq1ot1 expression in adult F1 males, and positively correlated with the Plagl1 expression in adult F2 females. Conclusion These data imply that paternal Plagl1, Cdkn1c, and Kcnq1ot1 might be part of the pathways involved in offspring leptin programming. Therefore, a lower ratio of n-6: n-3 PUFAs, with higher intake of n-3 PUFAs in paternal pre-conception, may help maintain the offspring's optimal leptin pattern in a sex-specific manner through multiple generations, and thereby, be beneficial for the offspring's long-term health.
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Deluao JC, Winstanley Y, Robker RL, Pacella-Ince L, Gonzalez MB, McPherson NO. OXIDATIVE STRESS AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION: Reactive oxygen species in the mammalian pre-implantation embryo. Reproduction 2022; 164:F95-F108. [PMID: 36111646 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In brief Reactive oxygen species are generated throughout the pre-implantation period and are necessary for normal embryo formation. However, at pathological levels, they result in reduced embryo viability which can be mediated through factors delivered by sperm and eggs at conception or from the external environment. Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) occur naturally in pre-implantation embryos as a by-product of ATP generation through oxidative phosphorylation and enzymes such as NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase. Biological concentrations of ROS are required for crucial embryonic events such as pronuclear formation, first cleavage and cell proliferation. However, high concentrations of ROS are detrimental to embryo development, resulting in embryo arrest, increased DNA damage and modification of gene expression leading to aberrant fetal growth and health. In vivo embryos are protected against oxidative stress by oxygen scavengers present in follicular and oviductal fluids, while in vitro, embryos rely on their own antioxidant defence mechanisms to protect against oxidative damage, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutamylcysteine synthestase. Pre-implantation embryonic ROS originate from eggs, sperm and embryos themselves or from the external environment (i.e. in vitro culture system, obesity and ageing). This review examines the biological and pathological roles of ROS in the pre-implantation embryo, maternal and paternal origins of embryonic ROS, and from a clinical perspective, we comment on the growing interest in combating increased oxidative damage in the pre-implantation embryo through the addition of antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Deluao
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Yasmyn Winstanley
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Robker
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leanne Pacella-Ince
- Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Repromed, Dulwich, Australia
| | - Macarena B Gonzalez
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nicole O McPherson
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Repromed, Dulwich, Australia
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9
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Bhadsavle SS, Golding MC. Paternal epigenetic influences on placental health and their impacts on offspring development and disease. Front Genet 2022; 13:1068408. [PMID: 36468017 PMCID: PMC9716072 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1068408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Our efforts to understand the developmental origins of birth defects and disease have primarily focused on maternal exposures and intrauterine stressors. Recently, research into non-genomic mechanisms of inheritance has led to the recognition that epigenetic factors carried in sperm also significantly impact the health of future generations. However, although researchers have described a range of potential epigenetic signals transmitted through sperm, we have yet to obtain a mechanistic understanding of how these paternally-inherited factors influence offspring development and modify life-long health. In this endeavor, the emerging influence of the paternal epigenetic program on placental development, patterning, and function may help explain how a diverse range of male exposures induce comparable intergenerational effects on offspring health. During pregnancy, the placenta serves as the dynamic interface between mother and fetus, regulating nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange and coordinating fetal growth and maturation. Studies examining intrauterine maternal stressors routinely describe alterations in placental growth, histological organization, and glycogen content, which correlate with well-described influences on infant health and adult onset of disease. Significantly, the emergence of similar phenotypes in models examining preconception male exposures indicates that paternal stressors transmit an epigenetic memory to their offspring that also negatively impacts placental function. Like maternal models, paternally programmed placental dysfunction exerts life-long consequences on offspring health, particularly metabolic function. Here, focusing primarily on rodent models, we review the literature and discuss the influences of preconception male health and exposure history on placental growth and patterning. We emphasize the emergence of common placental phenotypes shared between models examining preconception male and intrauterine stressors but note that the direction of change frequently differs between maternal and paternal exposures. We posit that alterations in placental growth, histological organization, and glycogen content broadly serve as reliable markers of altered paternal developmental programming, predicting the emergence of structural and metabolic defects in the offspring. Finally, we suggest the existence of an unrecognized developmental axis between the male germline and the extraembryonic lineages that may have evolved to enhance fetal adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael C. Golding
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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10
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Sciorio R, El Hajj N. Epigenetic Risks of Medically Assisted Reproduction. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11082151. [PMID: 35456243 PMCID: PMC9027760 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11082151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first baby conceived via in vitro fertilization, more than 9 million children have been born worldwide using assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In vivo fertilization takes place in the maternal oviduct, where the unique physiological conditions guarantee the healthy development of the embryo. During early embryogenesis, a major wave of epigenetic reprogramming takes place that is crucial for the correct development of the embryo. Epigenetic reprogramming is susceptible to environmental changes and non-physiological conditions such as those applied during in vitro culture, including shift in pH and temperature, oxygen tension, controlled ovarian stimulation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, as well as preimplantation embryo manipulations for genetic testing. In the last decade, concerns were raised of a possible link between ART and increased incidence of imprinting disorders, as well as epigenetic alterations in the germ cells of infertile parents that are transmitted to the offspring following ART. The aim of this review was to present evidence from the literature regarding epigenetic errors linked to assisted reproduction treatments and their consequences on the conceived children. Furthermore, we provide an overview of disease risk associated with epigenetic or imprinting alterations in children born via ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romualdo Sciorio
- Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Nady El Hajj
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar;
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11
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Jazwiec PA, Patterson VS, Ribeiro TA, Yeo E, Kennedy KM, Mathias PCF, Petrik JJ, Sloboda DM. Paternal obesity induces placental hypoxia and sex-specific impairments in placental vascularization and offspring metabolism. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:574-589. [PMID: 35377412 PMCID: PMC9382389 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Paternal obesity predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated whether this metabolic dysfunction is associated with changes in placental vascular development and is fueled by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated changes in fetal hepatic development. We also determined whether paternal obesity indirectly affects the in utero environment by disrupting maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy. Male mice fed a standard chow or high fat diet (60%kcal fat) for 8–10 weeks were time-mated with female mice to generate pregnancies and offspring. Glucose tolerance was evaluated in dams at mid-gestation (embryonic day (E) 14.5) and late gestation (E18.5). Hypoxia, angiogenesis, endocrine function, macronutrient transport, and ER stress markers were evaluated in E14.5 and E18.5 placentae and/or fetal livers. Maternal glucose tolerance was assessed at E14.5 and E18.5. Metabolic parameters were assessed in offspring at ~60 days of age. Paternal obesity did not alter maternal glucose tolerance but induced placental hypoxia and altered placental angiogenic markers, with the most pronounced effects in female placentae. Paternal obesity increased ER stress-related protein levels (ATF6 and PERK) in the fetal liver and altered hepatic expression of gluconeogenic factors at E18.5. Offspring of obese fathers were glucose intolerant and had impaired whole-body energy metabolism, with more pronounced effects in female offspring. Metabolic deficits in offspring due to paternal obesity may be mediated by sex-specific changes in placental vessel structure and integrity that contribute to placental hypoxia and may lead to poor fetal oxygenation and impairments in fetal metabolic signaling pathways in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja A Jazwiec
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Violet S Patterson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Tatiane A Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Paraná 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Erica Yeo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Katherine M Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Paulo C F Mathias
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Paraná 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Jim J Petrik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Deborah M Sloboda
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
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12
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Li Y, Pollock CA, Saad S. Aberrant DNA Methylation Mediates the Transgenerational Risk of Metabolic and Chronic Disease Due to Maternal Obesity and Overnutrition. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111653. [PMID: 34828259 PMCID: PMC8624316 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity is a rapidly evolving universal epidemic leading to acute and long-term medical and obstetric health issues, including increased maternal risks of gestational diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, and the future risks for offspring's predisposition to metabolic diseases. Epigenetic modification, in particular DNA methylation, represents a mechanism whereby environmental effects impact on the phenotypic expression of human disease. Maternal obesity or overnutrition contributes to the alterations in DNA methylation during early life which, through fetal programming, can predispose the offspring to many metabolic and chronic diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. This review aims to summarize findings from human and animal studies, which support the role of maternal obesity in fetal programing and the potential benefit of altering DNA methylation to limit maternal obesity related disease in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China;
| | - Carol A. Pollock
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia;
| | - Sonia Saad
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia;
- Correspondence:
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13
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Bernhardt L, Dittrich M, El-Merahbi R, Saliba AE, Müller T, Sumara G, Vogel J, Nichols-Burns S, Mitchell M, Haaf T, El Hajj N. A genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of embryos fathered by obese males in a murine model of diet-induced obesity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1979. [PMID: 33479343 PMCID: PMC7820458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81226-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Paternal obesity is known to have a negative impact on the male’s reproductive health as well as the health of his offspring. Although epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in the non-genetic transmission of acquired traits, the effect of paternal obesity on gene expression in the preimplantation embryo has not been fully studied. To this end, we investigated whether paternal obesity is associated with gene expression changes in eight-cell stage embryos fathered by males on a high-fat diet. We used single embryo RNA-seq to compare the gene expression profile of embryos generated by males on a high fat (HFD) versus control (CD) diet. This analysis revealed significant upregulation of the Samd4b and Gata6 gene in embryos in response to a paternal HFD. Furthermore, we could show a significant increase in expression of both Gata6 and Samd4b during differentiation of stromal vascular cells into mature adipocytes. These findings suggest that paternal obesity may induce changes in the male germ cells which are associated with the gene expression changes in the resulting preimplantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bernhardt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Dittrich
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rabih El-Merahbi
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Haus D15, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Müller
- Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Grzegorz Sumara
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Haus D15, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Nichols-Burns
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Megan Mitchell
- Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse, Erlangen, Germany.,School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nady El Hajj
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074, Würzburg, Germany. .,College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
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14
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Rutkowska J, Lagisz M, Bonduriansky R, Nakagawa S. Mapping the past, present and future research landscape of paternal effects. BMC Biol 2020; 18:183. [PMID: 33246472 PMCID: PMC7694421 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00892-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although in all sexually reproducing organisms an individual has a mother and a father, non-genetic inheritance has been predominantly studied in mothers. Paternal effects have been far less frequently studied, until recently. In the last 5 years, research on environmentally induced paternal effects has grown rapidly in the number of publications and diversity of topics. Here, we provide an overview of this field using synthesis of evidence (systematic map) and influence (bibliometric analyses). RESULTS We find that motivations for studies into paternal effects are diverse. For example, from the ecological and evolutionary perspective, paternal effects are of interest as facilitators of response to environmental change and mediators of extended heredity. Medical researchers track how paternal pre-fertilization exposures to factors, such as diet or trauma, influence offspring health. Toxicologists look at the effects of toxins. We compare how these three research guilds design experiments in relation to objects of their studies: fathers, mothers and offspring. We highlight examples of research gaps, which, in turn, lead to future avenues of research. CONCLUSIONS The literature on paternal effects is large and disparate. Our study helps in fostering connections between areas of knowledge that develop in parallel, but which could benefit from the lateral transfer of concepts and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Rutkowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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15
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Claycombe-Larson KG, Bundy AN, Roemmich JN. Paternal high-fat diet and exercise regulate sperm miRNA and histone methylation to modify placental inflammation, nutrient transporter mRNA expression and fetal weight in a sex-dependent manner. J Nutr Biochem 2020; 81:108373. [PMID: 32422425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We previously have shown that male offspring (F1) of fathers (F0) fed a high-fat (HF) diet and that exercised had greater skeletal muscle insulin signaling and reduced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk compared to fathers fed HF diet and that remained sedentary. The current study extends this work by hypothesizing that F0 HF diet and exercise regulate F1 T2DM risk by alterations in placental tissue growth via changes in sperm miRNA expression. To test these hypotheses, 3-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal-fat diet (16% fat) or an HF diet (45% fat) and assigned to either voluntary wheel running exercise or cage activity for 3 months. Results showed that F0 sperm miRNA 193b expression was decreased while miRNA 204 was increased by paternal exercise. Protein expression of dimethylated histone 3 lysine 9 was decreased with F0 HF diet. Placental and fetal tissue weights were decreased by F0 HF diet in F1 males. Placental interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA expression was reduced by paternal exercise, while nutrient transporter mRNA expression was decreased by paternal HF diet only in the placentae of F1 females. Treatment of primary placental cell with miRNA 193b inhibited TNF-α mRNA expression, and treatment of TNF-α decreased SLC38a2 mRNA expression. Moreover, paternal exercise increased body weight at weaning in a female offspring. These results demonstrate that placental tissue weight, placental nutrient transporter gene expression and fetal weights are altered by paternal exercise, while placental inflammatory gene expression is influenced by paternal exercise in offspring in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate G Claycombe-Larson
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA.
| | - Amy N Bundy
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| | - James N Roemmich
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
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16
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Denomme MM, Parks JC, McCallie BR, McCubbin NI, Schoolcraft WB, Katz-Jaffe MG. Advanced paternal age directly impacts mouse embryonic placental imprinting. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229904. [PMID: 32142542 PMCID: PMC7059926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The placental epigenome plays a critical role in regulating mammalian growth and development. Alterations to placental methylation, often observed at imprinted genes, can lead to adverse pregnancy complications such as intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. Similar associations have been observed in offspring derived from advanced paternal age fathers. As parental age at time of conception continues to rise, the impact of advanced paternal age on these reproductive outcomes is a growing concern, but limited information is available on the molecular mechanisms affected in utero. This longitudinal murine research study thus investigated the impact of paternal aging on genomic imprinting in viable F1 embryonic portions of the placentas derived from the same paternal males when they were young (4-6 months) and when they aged (11-15 months). The use of a controlled outbred mouse model enabled analysis of offspring throughout the natural lifetime of the same paternal males and excluded confounding factors like female age or infertility. Firstly, paternal age significantly impacted embryonic placental weight, fetal weight and length. Targeted bisulfite sequencing was utilized to examine imprinted methylation at the Kcnq1ot1 imprinting control region, with significant hypermethylation observed upon natural paternal aging. Quantitative real-time PCR assessed imprinted gene expression levels at various imprinting clusters, resulting in transcript level alterations attributable to advanced paternal age. In summary, our results demonstrate a paternal age effect with dysregulation at numerous imprinted loci, providing a mechanism for future adverse placental and offspring health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason C. Parks
- Fertility Labs of Colorado, Lone Tree, CO, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Mandy G. Katz-Jaffe
- Fertility Labs of Colorado, Lone Tree, CO, United States of America
- Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, CO, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Ding T, Mokshagundam S, Rinaudo PF, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Paternal developmental toxicant exposure is associated with epigenetic modulation of sperm and placental Pgr and Igf2 in a mouse model. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:864-876. [PMID: 29741588 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB), parturition prior to 37 weeks' gestation, is the leading cause of neonatal mortality. The causes of spontaneous PTB are poorly understood; however, recent studies suggest that this condition may arise as a consequence of the parental fetal environment. Specifically, we previously demonstrated that developmental exposure of male mice (F1 animals) to the environmental endocrine disruptor 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was associated with reduced sperm quantity/quality in adulthood and control female partners frequently delivered preterm. Reproductive defects persisted in the F2 and F3 descendants, and spontaneous PTB was common. Reproductive changes in the F3 males, the first generation without direct TCDD exposure, suggest the occurrence of epigenetic alterations in the sperm, which have the potential to impact placental development. Herein, we conducted an epigenetic microarray analysis of control and F1 male-derived placentae, which identified 2171 differentially methylated regions, including the progesterone receptor (Pgr) and insulin-like growth factor (Igf2). To assess if Pgr and Igf2 DNA methylation changes were present in sperm and persist in future generations, we assessed methylation and expression of these genes in F1/F3 sperm and F3-derived placentae. Although alterations in methylation and gene expression were observed, in most tissues, only Pgr reached statistical significance. Despite the modest gene expression changes in Igf2, offspring of F1 and F3 males consistently exhibited IUGR. Taken together, our data indicate that paternal developmental TCDD exposure is associated with transgenerational placental dysfunction, suggesting epigenetic modifications within the sperm have occurred. An evaluation of additional genes and alternative epigenetic mechanisms is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbing Ding
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shilpa Mokshagundam
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin G Osteen
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville Tennessee, USA
| | - Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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18
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Champagne FA. Interplay between paternal germline and maternal effects in shaping development: The overlooked importance of behavioural ecology. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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19
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Dupont C, Kappeler L, Saget S, Grandjean V, Lévy R. Role of miRNA in the Transmission of Metabolic Diseases Associated With Paternal Diet-Induced Obesity. Front Genet 2019; 10:337. [PMID: 31057600 PMCID: PMC6482346 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases (DOHaD) recognizes that an unfavorable maternal environment alters the developmental trajectory of the fetus and can lead to long-term risk of developing chronic noncommunicable diseases. More recently, the concept of a paternal transmission [Paternal Origins of Health and Diseases (POHaD)] has emerged stressing the impact of paternal overweight or obesity on offspring's health and development. While very few examples of paternal epigenetic inheritance of metabolic disorders have been evidenced in human, many experimental mouse models based on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced paternal obesity have been developed to breakdown molecular mechanisms involved in the process. Besides DNA methylation and chromatin structure, sperm short noncoding RNAs have been considered as the main epigenetic vector of inheritance of paternally environmentally induced changes. Among them, sperm miRNAs are one particular subspecies sensitive to environmental changes and obesity can modify the sperm miRNA profile. Once delivered into the zygote, these molecules might induce epigenetic modifications in the embryo, thereby leading to consequences for fetus development and offspring physical and metabolic health later on in life. Furthermore, some data also suggest that metabolic pathologies may be intergenerationally or transgenerationally transmitted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Dupont
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Service de biologie de la reproduction-CECOS, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Kappeler
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institute of Cardiometabolism, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Saget
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institute of Cardiometabolism, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Grandjean
- Inserm U1065, Team Control of Gene Expression (10), Université Cote d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Rachel Lévy
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Service de biologie de la reproduction-CECOS, Paris, France
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20
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Ou X, Zhu C, Sun S. Effects of obesity and diabetes on the epigenetic modification of mammalian gametes. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:7847-7855. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang‐Hong Ou
- Fertility Preservation Lab, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital Guangzhou China
| | - Cheng‐Cheng Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
- Nanjing Police Dog Institute of the Ministry of Public Security Nanjing China
| | - Shao‐Chen Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
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21
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Gonzalez-Nahm S, Mendez MA, Benjamin-Neelon SE, Murphy SK, Hogan VK, Rowley DL, Hoyo C. DNA methylation of imprinted genes at birth is associated with child weight status at birth, 1 year, and 3 years. Clin Epigenetics 2018; 10:90. [PMID: 29988473 PMCID: PMC6025828 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0521-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study assessed the associations between nine differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of imprinted genes in DNA derived from umbilical cord blood leukocytes in males and females and (1) birth weight for gestational age z score, (2) weight-for-length (WFL) z score at 1 year, and (3) body mass index (BMI) z score at 3 years. Methods We conducted multiple linear regression in n = 567 infants at birth, n = 288 children at 1 year, and n = 294 children at 3 years from the Newborn Epigenetics Study (NEST). We stratified by sex and adjusted for race/ethnicity, maternal education, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, prenatal smoking, maternal age, gestational age, and paternal race. We also conducted analysis restricting to infants not born small for gestational age. Results We found an association between higher methylation of the sequences regulating paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) and anthropometric z scores at 1 year (β = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.34, 1.33; p = 0.001) and 3 years (β = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.37, 1.69; p value = 0.003) in males only. Higher methylation of the DMR regulating mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) was associated with lower anthropometric z scores in females at 1 year (β = - 1.03; 95% CI - 1.60, - 0.45; p value = 0.001) and 3 years (β = - 1.11; 95% CI - 1.98, - 0.24; p value = 0.01). These associations persisted when we restricted to infants not born small for gestational age. Conclusion Our data support a sex-specific association between altered methylation and weight status in early life. These methylation marks can contribute to the compendium of epigenetically regulated regions detectable at birth, influencing obesity in childhood. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Michelle A. Mendez
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | | | - Diane L. Rowley
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
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22
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Epigenetic paternal effects as costly, condition-dependent traits. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 121:248-256. [PMID: 29904169 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0096-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now recognized that post-copulatory traits, such as sperm and ejaculate production can impose metabolic costs, and such traits are therefore expected to exhibit condition-dependent expression, whereby, low condition individuals experience a greater marginal cost of investment compared to high condition individuals. Ejaculates are especially costly in species where males invest in offspring quality through nutrient-rich spermatophores or other seminal nuptial gifts. However, recent evidence shows that, in species where males do not provision females or offspring, males can still influence offspring development through paternal effects mediated by epigenetic factors, such as non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and chromatin structure. Because such epigenetic paternal effects do not involve the transfer of substantial quantities of resources, such as nutrients, the costs of conferring such effects have not been considered. Here we argue that if selection favours paternal investment in offspring quality through epigenetic factors, then the epigenetic machinery required to bring about such effects may also be expected to evolve strongly condition-dependent expression. We outline indirect evidence suggesting that epigenetic paternal effects could impose substantial metabolic costs, consider the conditions under which selection may act on such effects, and suggest ways to test for differential costs and condition-dependence of these effects. Incorporating epigenetic paternal effects into condition-dependent life history theory will further our understanding of the heritability of fitness and the evolution of paternal investment strategies.
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Ding T, Lambert LA, Aronoff DM, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Sex-Dependent Influence of Developmental Toxicant Exposure on Group B Streptococcus-Mediated Preterm Birth in a Murine Model. Reprod Sci 2017; 25:662-673. [PMID: 29153057 DOI: 10.1177/1933719117741378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Infectious agents are a significant risk factor for preterm birth (PTB); however, the simple presence of bacteria is not sufficient to induce PTB in most women. Human and animal data suggest that environmental toxicant exposures may act in concert with other risk factors to promote PTB. Supporting this "second hit" hypothesis, we previously demonstrated exposure of fetal mice (F1 animals) to the environmental endocrine disruptor 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to an increased risk of spontaneous and infection-mediated PTB in adult animals. Surprisingly, adult F1males also confer an enhanced risk of PTB to their control partners. Herein, we used a recently established model of ascending group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection to explore the impact of a maternal versus paternal developmental TCDD exposure on infection-mediated PTB in adulthood. Group B Streptococcus is an important contributor to PTB in women and can have serious adverse effects on their infants. Our studies revealed that although gestation length was reduced in control mating pairs exposed to low-dose GBS, dams were able to clear the infection and bacterial transmission to pups was minimal. In contrast, exposure of pregnant F1females to the same GBS inoculum resulted in 100% maternal and fetal mortality. Maternal health and gestation length were not impacted in control females mated to F1males and exposed to GBS; however, neonatal survival was reduced compared to controls. Our data revealed a sex-dependent impact of parental TCDD exposure on placental expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and glycogen production, which may be responsible for the differential impact on fetal and maternal outcomes in response to GBS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbing Ding
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren A Lambert
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David M Aronoff
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kevin G Osteen
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,3 Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,4 VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Xu P, Wu Z, Yang W, Wang L. Dysregulation of DNA methylation and expression of imprinted genes in mouse placentas of fetal growth restriction induced by maternal cadmium exposure. Toxicology 2017; 390:109-116. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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