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Flores-Sierra JDJ, Muciño-Arellano MDR, Romo-Morales GDC, Sánchez-Palafox JE, Correa-Navarro VA, Colín-Castelán D, Pérez-Vázquez V, Rangel-Salazar R, Rivera-Bustamante R, de la Rocha C, Rodríguez-Ríos D, Trejo-Saavedra DL, Molina-Torres J, Ramírez-Chávez E, García-Rojas NS, Winkler R, Lund G, Zaina S. The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine blunts the response to a high-animal fat and protein diet in mice. J Lipid Res 2024; 65:100586. [PMID: 38942113 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2024.100586] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence hints that DNA hypermethylation may mediate the pathogenic response to cardiovascular risk factors. Here, we tested a corollary of that hypothesis, that is, that the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine (Dec) ameliorates the metabolic profile of mice fed a moderately high-animal fat and protein diet (HAFPD), a proxy of cardiovascular risk-associated Western-type diet. HAFPD-fed mice were exposed to Dec or vehicle for eight weeks (8W set, 4-32/group). To assess any memory of past exposure to Dec, we surveyed a second mice set treated as 8W but HAFPD-fed for further eight weeks without any Dec (16W set, 4-20/group). In 8W, Dec markedly reduced HAFPD-induced body weight gain in females, but marginally in males. Characterization of females revealed that Dec augmented skeletal muscle lipid content, while decreasing liver fat content and increasing plasma nonesterified fatty acids, adipose insulin resistance, and-although marginally-whole blood acylcarnitines, compared to HAFPD alone. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial DNA copy number was higher in 8W mice exposed to HAFPD and Dec, or in 16W mice fed HAFPD only, relative to 8W mice fed HAFPD only, but Dec induced a transcriptional profile indicative of ameliorated mitochondrial function. Memory of past Dec exposure was tissue-specific and sensitive to both duration of exposure to HAFPD and age. In conclusion, Dec redirected HAFPD-induced lipid accumulation toward the skeletal muscle, likely due to augmented mitochondrial functionality and increased lipid demand. As caveat, Dec induced adipose insulin resistance. Our findings may help identifying strategies for prevention and treatment of lipid dysmetabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- José de Jesús Flores-Sierra
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, Leon Campus, University of Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico; Tecnológico Nacional de México/ITS de Purísima del Rincón, Purísima del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Dannia Colín-Castelán
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, Leon Campus, University of Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico
| | - Victoriano Pérez-Vázquez
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, Leon Campus, University of Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico
| | - Rubén Rangel-Salazar
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, Leon Campus, University of Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico
| | | | - Carmen de la Rocha
- Department of Genetic Engineering, CINVESTAV Irapuato Unit, Irapuato, Mexico
| | | | | | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, CINVESTAV Irapuato Unit, Irapuato, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Gertrud Lund
- Department of Genetic Engineering, CINVESTAV Irapuato Unit, Irapuato, Mexico.
| | - Silvio Zaina
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, Leon Campus, University of Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico.
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2
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Li Y, Ma L, Deng Y, Du Z, Guo B, Yue J, Liu X, Zhang Y. The Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathway affects autophagy by adjusting DNA methyltransferases expression in a valproic acid-induced autism spectrum disorder model. Neuropharmacology 2023; 239:109682. [PMID: 37543138 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
As a pervasive neurodevelopmental disease, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is caused by both hereditary and environmental elements. Research has demonstrated the functions of the Notch pathway and DNA methylation in the etiology of ASD. DNA methyltransferases DNMT3 and DNMT1 are responsible for methylation establishment and maintenance, respectively. In this study, we aimed to explore the association of DNA methyltransferases with the Notch pathway in ASD. Our results showed Notch1 and Hes1 were upregulated, while DNMT3A and DNMT3B were downregulated at the protein level in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC) and cerebellum (CB) of VPA-induced ASD rats compared with Control (Con) group. However, the protein levels of DNMT3A and DNMT3B were augmented after treatment with 3,5-difluorophenacetyl-L-alanyl-S-phenylglycine-2-butyl ester (DAPT), suggesting that abnormal Notch pathway activation may affect the expression of DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Besides, our previous findings revealed that the Notch pathway may participate in development of ASD by influencing autophagy. Therefore, we hypothesized the Notch pathway adjusts autophagy and contributes to ASD by affecting DNA methyltransferases. Our current results showed that after receiving the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-2'dc), the VPA + DAPT+5-Aza-2'dc (V + D + Aza) group exhibited reduced social interaction ability and increased stereotyped behaviors, and decreased expression of DNMT3A, DNMT3B and autophagy-related proteins, but did not show changes in Notch1 and Hes1 protein levels. Our results indicated that the Notch1/Hes1 pathway may adjust DNMT3A and DNMT3B expression and subsequently affect autophagy in the occurrence of ASD, providing new insight into the pathogenesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Li
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Liping Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Yanan Deng
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Ziwei Du
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Bingqian Guo
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Jianing Yue
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Xianxian Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Yinghua Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China.
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3
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Zhang S, Fu W, Jia X, Bade R, Liu X, Xie Y, Xie W, Jiang S, Shao G. Hypoxic Preconditioning Modulates BDNF and Its Signaling through DNA Methylation to Promote Learning and Memory in Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:2320-2332. [PMID: 37289948 PMCID: PMC10289091 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) as an endogenous mechanism can resist hypoxia/ischemia injury and exhibit protective effects on neurological function including learning and memory. Although underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, HPC probably regulates the expression of protective molecules by modulating DNA methylation. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activates its signaling upon binding to the tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor, which is involved in neuronal growth, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. Therefore, this study focused on the mechanism by which HPC regulates BDNF and BDNF/TrkB signaling through DNA methylation to influence learning and memory. Initially, the HPC model was established by hypoxia stimulations on ICR mice. We found that HPC downregulated the expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 3A and DNMT3B. Then, the upregulation of BDNF expression in HPC mice was generated from a decrease in DNA methylation of the BDNF gene promoter detected by pyrophosphate sequencing. Subsequently, upregulation of BDNF activated BDNF/TrkB signaling and ultimately improved learning and spatial memory in HPC mice. Moreover, after mice were intracerebroventricularly injected with the DNMT inhibitor, the restraint of DNA methylation accompanied by an increase of BDNF and BDNF/TrkB signaling was also discovered. Finally, we observed that the inhibitor of BDNF/TrkB signaling prevented HPC from ameliorating learning and memory in mice. However, the DNMT inhibitor promoted spatial cognition in mice. Thus, we suggest that HPC may upregulate BDNF by inhibiting DNMTs and decreasing DNA methylation of the BDNF gene and then activate BDNF/TrkB signaling to improve learning and memory in mice. This may provide theoretical guidance for the clinical treatment of cognitive dysfunction caused by ischemia/hypoxia disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiji Zhang
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Weng Fu
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Xiaoe Jia
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
- School
of Basic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Rengui Bade
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
- School
of Medical Technology and Anesthesia, Baotou Medical College of Neuroscience
Institute, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Xiaolei Liu
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Yabin Xie
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
- School
of Medical Technology and Anesthesia, Baotou Medical College of Neuroscience
Institute, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
- School
of Medical Technology and Anesthesia, Baotou Medical College of Neuroscience
Institute, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Shuyuan Jiang
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Guo Shao
- Inner
Mongolia Key Laboratory of Hypoxic Translational Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014060, China
- Center
for Translational Medicine and Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third People’s Hospital of Longgang District, Shenzhen 518112, China
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Kremsky I, Ma Q, Li B, Dasgupta C, Chen X, Ali S, Angeloni S, Wang C, Zhang L. Fetal hypoxia results in sex- and cell type-specific alterations in neonatal transcription in rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells, microglia, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:58. [PMID: 36932456 PMCID: PMC10022003 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01012-8] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal hypoxia causes vital, systemic, developmental malformations in the fetus, particularly in the brain, and increases the risk of diseases in later life. We previously demonstrated that fetal hypoxia exposure increases the susceptibility of the neonatal brain to hypoxic-ischemic insult. Herein, we investigate the effect of fetal hypoxia on programming of cell-specific transcriptomes in the brain of neonatal rats. RESULTS We obtained RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from neurons, microglia, oligodendrocytes, A2B5+ oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and astrocytes from male and female neonatal rats subjected either to fetal hypoxia or control conditions. Substantial transcriptomic responses to fetal hypoxia occurred in neurons, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and A2B5+ cells. Not only were the transcriptomic responses unique to each cell type, but they also occurred with a great deal of sexual dimorphism. We validated differential expression of several genes related to inflammation and cell death by Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Pathway and transcription factor motif analyses suggested that the NF-kappa B (NFκB) signaling pathway was enriched in the neonatal male brain due to fetal hypoxia, and we verified this result by transcription factor assay of NFκB-p65 in whole brain. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals a significant impact of fetal hypoxia on the transcriptomes of neonatal brains in a cell-specific and sex-dependent manner, and provides mechanistic insights that may help explain the development of hypoxic-ischemic sensitive phenotypes in the neonatal brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Kremsky
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.,Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Qingyi Ma
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.,Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Bo Li
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Chiranjib Dasgupta
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.,Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Samir Ali
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Shawnee Angeloni
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Charles Wang
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.,Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA. .,Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.
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5
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Chen Z, Chen W, Li Y, Moos M, Xiao D, Wang C. Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility and RNA sequencing reveal impaired brain development in prenatally e-cigarette exposed neonatal rats. iScience 2022; 25:104686. [PMID: 35874099 PMCID: PMC9304611 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although emerging evidence reveals that vaping alters the function of the central nervous system, the effects of maternal vaping on offspring brain development remain elusive. Using a well-established in utero exposure model, we performed single-nucleus ATAC-seq (snATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) on prenatally e-cigarette-exposed rat brains. We found that maternal vaping distorted neuronal lineage differentiation in the neonatal brain by promoting excitatory neurons and inhibiting lateral ganglionic eminence-derived inhibitory neuronal differentiation. Moreover, maternal vaping disrupted calcium homeostasis, induced microglia cell death, and elevated susceptibility to cerebral ischemic injury in the developing brain of offspring. Our results suggest that the aberrant calcium signaling, diminished microglial population, and impaired microglia-neuron interaction may all contribute to the underlying mechanisms by which prenatal e-cigarette exposure impairs neonatal rat brain development. Our findings raise the concern that maternal vaping may cause adverse long-term brain damage to the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Chen
- Center for Genomics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11021 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Wanqiu Chen
- Center for Genomics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11021 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Yong Li
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Malcolm Moos
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research & Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Daliao Xiao
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Charles Wang
- Center for Genomics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11021 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Division of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Department of Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11021 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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6
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Lax E. DNA Methylation as a Therapeutic and Diagnostic Target in Major Depressive Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:759052. [PMID: 35431832 PMCID: PMC9006940 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.759052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elad Lax
- *Correspondence: Elad Lax ; orcid.org/0000-0002-0310-0520
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7
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Histone Methyltransferases SUV39H1 and G9a and DNA Methyltransferase DNMT1 in Penumbra Neurons and Astrocytes after Photothrombotic Stroke. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212483. [PMID: 34830365 PMCID: PMC8619375 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cerebral ischemia, a common cerebrovascular disease, is one of the great threats to human health and new targets for stroke therapy are needed. The transcriptional activity in the cell is regulated by epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation/demethylation, acetylation/deacetylation, histone methylation, etc. Changes in DNA methylation after ischemia can have both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects depending on the degree of ischemia damage, the time elapsed after injury, and the site of methylation. Methods: In this study, we investigated the changes in the expression and intracellular localization of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, histone methyltransferases SUV39H1, and G9a in penumbra neurons and astrocytes at 4 and 24 h after stroke in the rat cerebral cortex using photothrombotic stroke (PTS) model. Methods of immunofluorescence microscopy analysis, apoptosis analysis, and immunoblotting were used. Additionally, we have studied the effect of DNMT1 and G9a inhibitors on the volume of PTS-induced infarction and apoptosis of penumbra cells in the cortex of mice after PTS. Results: This study has shown that the level of DNMT1 increased in the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of the penumbra tissue at 24 h after PTS. Inhibition of DNMT1 by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine protected cells of PTS-induced penumbra from apoptosis. An increase in the level of SUV39H1 in the penumbra was found at 24 h after PTS and G9a was overexpressed at 4 and 24 h after PTS. G9a inhibitors A-366 and BIX01294 protected penumbra cells from apoptosis and reduced the volume of PTS-induced cerebral infarction. Conclusion: Thus, the data obtained show that DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 and histone methyltransferase G9a can be potential protein targets in ischemic penumbra cells, and their inhibitors are potential neuroprotective agents capable of protecting penumbra cells from postischemic damage to the cerebral cortex.
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8
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Walayat A, Li Y, Zhang Y, Fu Y, Liu B, Shao XM, Zhang L, Xiao D. Fetal e-cigarette exposure programs a neonatal brain hypoxic-ischemic sensitive phenotype via altering DNA methylation patterns and autophagy signaling pathway. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R791-R801. [PMID: 34524928 PMCID: PMC8616627 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00207.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Maternal e-cigarette (e-cig) exposure is a pressing perinatal health concern. Emerging evidence reveals its potential adverse impacts on brain development in offspring, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The present study tested the hypothesis that fetal e-cig exposure induces an aberrant DNA methylation profile in the developing brain, leading to alteration of autophagic flux signaling and programming of a sensitive phenotype to neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Pregnant rats were exposed to chronic intermittent e-cig aerosol. Neonates were examined at the age of 9 days old. Maternal e-cig exposure decreased the body weight and brain weight but enhanced the brain-to-body weight ratio in the neonates. E-cig exposure induced a gender-dependent increase in hypoxic-ischemia-induced brain injury in male neonates associated with enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. It differentially altered DNA methyltransferase expression and enhanced both global DNA methylation levels and specific CpG methylation at the autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) promoter. In addition, maternal e-cig exposure caused downregulations of ATG5, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β, and sirtuin 1 expression in neonatal brains. Of importance, knockdown of ATG5 in neonatal pups exaggerated neonatal HIE. In conclusion, the present study reveals that maternal e-cig exposure downregulates autophagy-related gene expression via DNA hypermethylation, leading to programming of a hypoxic-ischemic sensitive phenotype in the neonatal brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Walayat
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Yong Li
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Yingjie Fu
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Bailin Liu
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Xuesi M Shao
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Daliao Xiao
- Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
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9
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Zhang Y, Yang M, Li Y, Liu B, Zhang L, Xiao D. Inhibition of DNA methylation in newborns reprograms ischemia-sensitive biomarkers resulting in development of a heart ischemia-sensitive phenotype late in life. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 105:198-210. [PMID: 34536542 PMCID: PMC8511209 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Adverse environmental stress exposure at critical perinatal stages can alter cardiovascular development, which could persist into adulthood and develop a cardiovascular dysfunctional phenotype late in life. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. The present study provided a direct evidence that DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mechanism contributing to the developmental origins of adult cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that DNA hypomethylation at neonatal stage alters gene expression patterns in the heart, leading to development of a cardiac ischemia-sensitive phenotype late in life. To test this hypothesis, a DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) was administered in newborn rats from postnatal day 1-3. Cardiac function and related key genes were measured in 2-week- and 2-month-old animals, respectively. 5-Aza treatment induced an age- and sex-dependent inhibition of global and gene-specific DNA methylation levels in left ventricles, resulting in a long-lasting growth restriction but an asymmetry increase in the heart-to-body weight ratio. In addition, treatment with 5-Aza enhanced ischemia and reperfusion-induced cardiac dysfunction and injury in adults as compared with the saline controls, which was associated with up-regulations of miRNA-181a and angiotensin II receptor type 1 & 2 gene expressions, but down-regulations of PKCε, Atg5, and GSK3β gene expressions in left ventricles. In conclusion, our results provide compelling evidence that neonatal DNA methylation deficiency is a key mechanism contributing to differentially reprogram cardiac gene expression patterns, leading to development of a heart ischemia-sensitive phenotype late in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Zhang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Meizi Yang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Yong Li
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Bailin Liu
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Daliao Xiao
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
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10
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Ramirez K, Fernández R, Collet S, Kiyar M, Delgado-Zayas E, Gómez-Gil E, Van Den Eynde T, T'Sjoen G, Guillamon A, Mueller SC, Pásaro E. Epigenetics Is Implicated in the Basis of Gender Incongruence: An Epigenome-Wide Association Analysis. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:701017. [PMID: 34489625 PMCID: PMC8418298 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.701017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The main objective was to carry out a global DNA methylation analysis in a population with gender incongruence before gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT), in comparison to a cisgender population. Methods A global CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) methylation analysis was performed on blood from 16 transgender people before GAHT vs. 16 cisgender people using the Illumina© Infinium Human Methylation 850k BeadChip, after bisulfite conversion. Changes in the DNA methylome in cisgender vs. transgender populations were analyzed with the Partek® Genomics Suite program by a 2-way ANOVA test comparing populations by group and their sex assigned at birth. Results The principal components analysis (PCA) showed that both populations (cis and trans) differ in the degree of global CpG methylation prior to GAHT. The 2-way ANOVA test showed 71,515 CpGs that passed the criterion FDR p < 0.05. Subsequently, in male assigned at birth population we found 87 CpGs that passed both criteria (FDR p < 0.05; fold change ≥ ± 2) of which 22 were located in islands. The most significant CpGs were related to genes: WDR45B, SLC6A20, NHLH1, PLEKHA5, UBALD1, SLC37A1, ARL6IP1, GRASP, and NCOA6. Regarding the female assigned at birth populations, we found 2 CpGs that passed both criteria (FDR p < 0.05; fold change ≥ ± 2), but none were located in islands. One of these CpGs, related to the MPPED2 gene, is shared by both, trans men and trans women. The enrichment analysis showed that these genes are involved in functions such as negative regulation of gene expression (GO:0010629), central nervous system development (GO:0007417), brain development (GO:0007420), ribonucleotide binding (GO:0032553), and RNA binding (GO:0003723), among others. Strengths and Limitations It is the first time that a global CpG methylation analysis has been carried out in a population with gender incongruence before GAHT. A prospective study before/during GAHT would provide a better understanding of the influence of epigenetics in this process. Conclusion The main finding of this study is that the cis and trans populations have different global CpG methylation profiles prior to GAHT. Therefore, our results suggest that epigenetics may be involved in the etiology of gender incongruence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Ramirez
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychology, Institute Advanced Scientific Research Center (CICA), University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.,Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Center for Biophysics and Biochemistry, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Rosa Fernández
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychology, Institute Advanced Scientific Research Center (CICA), University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Sarah Collet
- Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Meltem Kiyar
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Enrique Delgado-Zayas
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychology, Institute Advanced Scientific Research Center (CICA), University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | | | - Guy T'Sjoen
- Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Antonio Guillamon
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, National University of Distance Education (UNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eduardo Pásaro
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychology, Institute Advanced Scientific Research Center (CICA), University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
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Shen G, Hu S, Zhao Z, Zhang L, Ma Q. C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Ameliorates Vascular Injury and Improves Neurological Outcomes in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168966. [PMID: 34445671 PMCID: PMC8396645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an important vascular regulator that is present in the brain. Our previous study demonstrated the innate neuroprotectant role of CNP in the neonatal brain after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insults. In this study, we further explored the role of CNP in cerebrovascular pathology using both in vivo and in vitro models. In a neonatal mouse HI brain injury model, we found that intracerebroventricular administration of recombinant CNP dose-dependently reduces brain infarct size. CNP significantly decreases brain edema and immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasation into the brain tissue, suggesting a vasculoprotective effect of CNP. Moreover, in primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), CNP dose-dependently protects BMEC survival and monolayer integrity against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The vasculoprotective effect of CNP is mediated by its innate receptors NPR2 and NPR3, in that inhibition of either NPR2 or NPR3 counteracts the protective effect of CNP on IgG leakage after HI insult and BMEC survival under OGD. Of importance, CNP significantly ameliorates brain atrophy and improves neurological deficits after HI insults. Altogether, the present study indicates that recombinant CNP exerts vascular protection in neonatal HI brain injury via its innate receptors, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neonatal HI brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofang Shen
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (G.S.); (S.H.); (L.Z.)
| | - Shirley Hu
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (G.S.); (S.H.); (L.Z.)
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA;
| | - Lubo Zhang
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (G.S.); (S.H.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qingyi Ma
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (G.S.); (S.H.); (L.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-909-558-4325; Fax: +1-909-558-4029
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12
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Shen G, Hu S, Zhao Z, Zhang L, Ma Q. Antenatal Hypoxia Accelerates the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology in 5xFAD Mouse Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:251. [PMID: 32973487 PMCID: PMC7472639 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairment and later dementia among the elderly. Mounting evidence shows that adverse maternal environments during the fetal development increase the risk of diseases later in life including neurological disorders, and suggests an early origin in the development of AD-related dementia (ADRD) in utero. In the present study, we investigated the impact of antenatal hypoxia and fetal stress on the initiation of AD-related pathology in offspring of 5xFAD mice. We showed that fetal hypoxia significantly reduced brain and body weight in the fetal and the early postnatal period, which recovered in young adult mice. Using spontaneous Y-maze, novel object recognition (NOR), and open field (OF) tasks, we found that antenatal hypoxia exacerbated cognitive decline in offspring of 5xFAD compared with normoxia control. Of interest, fetal hypoxia did not alter intraneuronal soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomer accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus in 5xFAD mouse offspring, indicating that antenatal hypoxia increased the vulnerability of the brain to synaptotoxic Aβ in the disease onset later in life. Consistent with the early occurrence of cognitive decline, we found synapse loss but not neuronal death in the cerebral cortex in 5xFAD but not wild-type (WT) offspring exposed to antenatal hypoxia. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that antenatal hypoxia significantly increased microglial number and activation, and reactive astrogliosis in the cerebral cortex in WT offspring. Moreover, antenatal hypoxia resulted in an exacerbated increase of microgliosis and astrogliosis in the early stage of AD in 5xFAD offspring. Together, our study reveals a causative link between fetal stress and the accelerated onset of AD-related pathology, and provides mechanistic insights into the developmental origin of aging-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofang Shen
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Shirley Hu
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Qingyi Ma
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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Chen Q, Wang F, Zhang Y, Liu Y, An L, Ma Z, Zhang J, Yu S. Neonatal DEX exposure leads to hyperanxious and depressive-like behaviors as well as a persistent reduction of BDNF expression in developmental stages. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 527:311-316. [PMID: 32446386 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.04.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which regulates the neuronal survival, differentiation and synaptic plasticity, has been proved to play a critical role in the pathology and treatment of several psychiatric disorders including depression. Dexamethaone (DEX) is indicated for a number of conditions in perinatal medicine, however, the long-term impact of early-life DEX exposure on BDNF expression in hippocampus remains unknown. Here we found that neonatal DEX(ND) exposure leads to insignificant change of BDNF expression levels in the adulthood, albeit increased hyperanxious and depressive-like behaviors. However, the bdnf mRNA and BDNF protein levels were significantly reduced in all the hippocampal subregions during the developmental stages, including the perinatal period and puberty. We conclude that early life DEX exposure leads to a persistent disturbance of BDNF signaling during the developmental stages, which might be associated with the life-long impairment of hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfei Chen
- Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai Baoshan District, Shanghai, 200444, China; Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China; Zhengzhou Institute of Engineering and Technology Affiliated with SIBET, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yunchao Zhang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China; Zhengzhou Institute of Engineering and Technology Affiliated with SIBET, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Li An
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China; Zhengzhou Institute of Engineering and Technology Affiliated with SIBET, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Zhongliang Ma
- Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai Baoshan District, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Jingzhong Zhang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China; Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China; Tianjin Guokeyigong Science and Technology Development Company Limited, Tianjin, 300399, China; Zhengzhou Institute of Engineering and Technology Affiliated with SIBET, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Shuang Yu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou New District, Suzhou, 215163, China; Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
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Li R, Guo W, Lei L, Zhang L, Liu Y, Han J, Chen L, Zhou B. Early-life exposure to the organophosphorus flame-retardant tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate induces delayed neurotoxicity associated with DNA methylation in adult zebrafish. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105293. [PMID: 31731001 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Early-life exposure to toxicants could affect health outcomes in adulthood. We determined the effects of early-life exposure to the organophosphorus flame-retardant tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) in adult zebrafish. Embryos were exposed to TDCIPP from early embryogenesis (2 h post-fertilization) to 10 days post-fertilization (dpf), and larvae were transferred to clean water until adulthood (150 dpf). TDCIPP showed accumulation in larvae, but returned to control levels after 7 days of depuration. In adult zebrafish exposed to TDCIPP in early life, vulnerability to anxiety-like behavior was observed in females but not males, suggesting gender-dependent neurotoxicity. Decreased dopamine (DA) concentration and down-regulation of dopaminergic signaling related genes were observed in the brains of adult females. Upregulation of DNA methylation transferases (dnmt1, dnmt3a, and dnmt3b) genes were observed in larvae and brains of adult females. Further, the promoter regions of the selected key genes (bdnf, drd4b, zc4h2 and th) showed increased DNA methylation status, accompanied by down-regulation of gene transcription in larvae and brains of adult females. Our results indicate that early-life exposure to TDCIPP could cause delayed neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, School of Public Health, and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, School of Public Health, and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Yunhao Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, School of Public Health, and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Jian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lianguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Bingsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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Verstraeten BSE, McCreary JK, Falkenberg EA, Fang X, Weyers S, Metz GAS, Olson DM. Multiple prenatal stresses increase sexual dimorphism in adult offspring behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 107:251-260. [PMID: 31174163 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal gestational stress and immune activation have independently been associated with affective and neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan. We investigated whether rats exposed to prenatal maternal stressors (PNMS) consisting of psychological stress, interleukin (IL)-1β or both (two-hit stress) during critical developmental windows displayed a behavioral phenotype representative of these conditions. METHODS Long-Evans dams were exposed to psychological stressors consisting of restraint stress and forced swimming from gestational day (GD)12 to 18 or to no stress (controls). From GD17 until day of delivery, these same animals were injected with saline or IL-1β as a second hit and immune stressor (5 μg/day, intraperitoneally). The behavior of F1 offspring adults was tested on the open field test, elevated plus maze and affective exploration task on postnatal days (P)90, 100 and 110 respectively. RESULTS The effects of PNMS differed depending on the specific testing environment and potentially the age at assessment, especially in female offspring. Both locomotion and anxiety-like behavioral measures were susceptible to PNMS effects. In females, psychological stress increased anxiety-like behavior, whereas IL-1β had an opposite effect, inducing exploration and risk-taking behavior on the open field test and the elevated plus maze. When present, interactions between both stressors limited the anxiogenic effect of psychological stress on its own. In contrast, prenatal psychological stress increased anxiety-like behavior in adult males overall. A similar anxiogenic effect of IL-1β was only found on the open field test while the Stress*IL-1β interaction appeared to limit the effect of either alone. Contrarily, the PNMS effects on anxiety-like behavior on the affective exploration task were highly similar between both sexes. Analysis of males and females together revealed an additive effect of Stress and IL-1β on the number of exits from the refuge, a measure of risk assessment and thus correlated with anxiety. CONCLUSION PNMS affected offspring adult behavior in a sex-dependent manner. Effects on females were more variable, whereas psychological stress mostly induced anxiety-like behavior in males. These data highlight the sexual dimorphism in vulnerability to prenatal stressors. Maternal or stress-induced programming of the stress response and neuroinflammation may play an important role in mediating stress effects on offspring adult behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara S E Verstraeten
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, 227 HMRC, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada; Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - J Keiko McCreary
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Erin A Falkenberg
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Xin Fang
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, 227 HMRC, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada
| | - Steven Weyers
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Gerlinde A S Metz
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - David M Olson
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, 227 HMRC, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada.
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Tang S, Xu S, Waddell J, Zhu W, Gullapalli RP, Mooney SM. Functional Connectivity and Metabolic Alterations in Medial Prefrontal Cortex in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and in vivo Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study. Dev Neurosci 2019; 41:67-78. [PMID: 30999297 DOI: 10.1159/000499183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure alters brain structure, functional connectivity, and behavior in humans and rats. Behavioral changes include deficits in executive function, which requires cooperative activity between the frontal cortices and other brain regions. In this study, we analyzed the functional connectivity and neurochemical levels of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in ethanol-exposed (Eth) and control (Ctr) rats. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (2.1-6.46% v/v ethanol) from gestational days 6 to 21 (Eth). Ctr animals received an isocaloric, isonutritive liquid diet. In young adulthood, male and female offspring underwent in vivo MRI using a 7.0-Tesla system. 1H-MRS from the PFC and whole brain rsfMRI were obtained on the animals. Seed-based functional connectivity analysis was performed with seeds placed in the PFC, matching the voxel of MRS. Male, but not female, Eth rats showed less functional connectivity between PFC and dorsal striatum than Ctr animals. In Eth males glucose levels were significantly lower, and in Eth females lower levels of phosphorylcholine but an increased gamma-aminobutyric acid/glutamate ratio were observed in the PFC compared with Ctr animals. Prenatal ethanol alters brain metabolism and functional connectivity of the PFC in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Tang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Program in Toxicology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Su Xu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jaylyn Waddell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rao P Gullapalli
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sandra M Mooney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,
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Neuroendocrine aging precedes perimenopause and is regulated by DNA methylation. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 74:213-224. [PMID: 30497015 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Perimenopause marks initiation of female reproductive senescence. Age of onset is only 47% heritable suggesting that additional factors other than inheritance regulate this endocrine aging transition. To elucidate these factors, we characterized transcriptional and epigenomic changes across endocrine aging using a rat model that recapitulates characteristics of the human perimenopause. RNA-seq analysis revealed that hypothalamic aging precedes onset of perimenopause. In the hypothalamus, global DNA methylation declined with both age and reproductive senescence. Genome-wide epigentic analysis revealed changes in DNA methylation in genes required for hormone signaling, glutamate signaling, and melatonin and circadian pathways. Specific epignetic changes in these signaling pathways provide insight into the origin of perimenopause-associated neurological symptoms such as insomnia. Treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a DNA-methyltransferase-1 inhibitor, accelerated transition to reproductive senescence/ whereas supplementation with methionine, a S-adenosylmethionine precursor, delayed onset of perimenopause and endocrine aging. Collectively, these data provide evidence for a critical period of female neuroendocrine aging in brain that precedes ovarian failure and that DNA methylation regulates the transition duration of perimenopause to menopause.
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Ducsay CA, Goyal R, Pearce WJ, Wilson S, Hu XQ, Zhang L. Gestational Hypoxia and Developmental Plasticity. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:1241-1334. [PMID: 29717932 PMCID: PMC6088145 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00043.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is one of the most common and severe challenges to the maintenance of homeostasis. Oxygen sensing is a property of all tissues, and the response to hypoxia is multidimensional involving complicated intracellular networks concerned with the transduction of hypoxia-induced responses. Of all the stresses to which the fetus and newborn infant are subjected, perhaps the most important and clinically relevant is that of hypoxia. Hypoxia during gestation impacts both the mother and fetal development through interactions with an individual's genetic traits acquired over multiple generations by natural selection and changes in gene expression patterns by altering the epigenetic code. Changes in the epigenome determine "genomic plasticity," i.e., the ability of genes to be differentially expressed according to environmental cues. The genomic plasticity defined by epigenomic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs during development is the mechanistic substrate for phenotypic programming that determines physiological response and risk for healthy or deleterious outcomes. This review explores the impact of gestational hypoxia on maternal health and fetal development, and epigenetic mechanisms of developmental plasticity with emphasis on the uteroplacental circulation, heart development, cerebral circulation, pulmonary development, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adipose tissue. The complex molecular and epigenetic interactions that may impact an individual's physiology and developmental programming of health and disease later in life are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Ducsay
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Ravi Goyal
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - William J. Pearce
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Sean Wilson
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Xiang-Qun Hu
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Lubo Zhang
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
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Ke J, Dong N, Wang L, Li Y, Dasgupta C, Zhang L, Xiao D. Role of DNA methylation in perinatal nicotine-induced development of heart ischemia-sensitive phenotype in rat offspring. Oncotarget 2017; 8:76865-76880. [PMID: 29100355 PMCID: PMC5652749 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Maternal cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in offspring. Recently, we have demonstrated that perinatal nicotine exposure alters heart development and increases heart susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat offspring. The present study tested the hypothesis that DNA methylation plays a key role in the nicotine-induced development of heart ischemia-sensitive phenotype in offspring. Experimental approach Nicotine was administered to pregnant rats via subcutaneous osmotic minipumps from gestational day 4 until postnatal day 10. After birth, the postnatal offspring were treated with the DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) or saline from postnatal day 3 to day 10. Experiments were conducted in 1 month old offspring. Key results Perinatal nicotine increased I/R-induced left ventricular (LV) injury, and decreased post-ischemic recovery of the LV function and coronary flow rate in both male and female offspring. Nicotine differentially increased DNMT3a expression and global DNA methylation levels in LV tissues. Treatment with 5-Aza inhibited nicotine-induced an increase in DNMT3a and global DNA methylation, and blocked the nicotine-induced increase in I/R injury and dysfunction in the heart. In addition, nicotine attenuated protein kinases Cε and large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKca) channel β1 subunit protein abundances in the heart, which were reversed by 5-Aza treatment. Conclusions and implications The present findings provide novel evidence that the increased DNA methylation plays a causal role in nicotine-induced development of heart ischemic sensitive phenotype, and suggest a potential therapeutic target of DNA demethylation for the fetal programming of heart ischemic disease later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ke
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Nianguo Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People's Hospital of Shanghai Putuo District, Shanghai, China.,Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Yong Li
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Chiranjib Dasgupta
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Daliao Xiao
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
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Wang L, Ke J, Li Y, Ma Q, Dasgupta C, Huang X, Zhang L, Xiao D. Inhibition of miRNA-210 reverses nicotine-induced brain hypoxic-ischemic injury in neonatal rats. Int J Biol Sci 2017; 13:76-84. [PMID: 28123348 PMCID: PMC5264263 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.17278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal tobacco use in pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and neurobehavioral deficits in postnatal life. The present study tested the hypothesis that perinatal nicotine exposure exacerbated brain vulnerability to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in neonatal rats through up-regulation of miR-210 expression in the developing brain. Nicotine was administered to pregnant rats via subcutaneous osmotic minipumps. Experiments of HI brain injury were performed in 10-day-old pups. Perinatal nicotine treatment significantly decreased neonatal body and brain weights, but increased the brain to body weight ratio. Perinatal nicotine exposure caused a significant increase in HI brain infarct size in the neonates. In addition, nicotine enhanced miR-210 expression and significantly attenuated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin-related kinase isoform B (TrkB) protein abundance in the brain. Of importance, intracerebroventricular administration of a miR-210 inhibitor (miR-210-LNA) significantly decreased HI-induced brain infarct size and reversed the nicotine-increased vulnerability to brain HI injury in the neonate. Furthermore, miR-210-LNA treatment also reversed nicotine-mediated down-regulation of BDNF and TrkB protein expression in the neonatal brains. These findings provide novel evidence that the increased miR-210 plays a causal role in perinatal nicotine-induced developmental programming of ischemic sensitive phenotype in the brain. It represents a potential novel therapeutic approach for treatment of brain hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the neonate-induced by fetal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA.; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Putuo District People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Ke
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA.; Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong Li
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Qinyi Ma
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Chiranjib Dasgupta
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Xiaohui Huang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - DaLiao Xiao
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA
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