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Batorsky R, Ceasrine AM, Shook LL, Kislal S, Bordt EA, Devlin BA, Perlis RH, Slonim DK, Bilbo SD, Edlow AG. Hofbauer cells and fetal brain microglia share transcriptional profiles and responses to maternal diet-induced obesity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114326. [PMID: 38848212 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114326] [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] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation is associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes, many mediated by in utero microglial programming. As microglia remain inaccessible throughout development, identification of noninvasive biomarkers reflecting fetal brain microglial programming could permit screening and intervention. We used lineage tracing to demonstrate the shared ontogeny between fetal brain macrophages (microglia) and fetal placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells) in a mouse model of maternal diet-induced obesity, and single-cell RNA-seq to demonstrate shared transcriptional programs. Comparison with human datasets demonstrated conservation of placental resident macrophage signatures between mice and humans. Single-cell RNA-seq identified common alterations in fetal microglial and Hofbauer cell gene expression induced by maternal obesity, as well as sex differences in these alterations. We propose that Hofbauer cells, which are easily accessible at birth, provide insights into fetal brain microglial programs and may facilitate the early identification of offspring vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Batorsky
- Data Intensive Studies Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Alexis M Ceasrine
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lydia L Shook
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sezen Kislal
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evan A Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Devlin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donna K Slonim
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Merabova N, Ugartemendia L, Edlow AG, Ibarra C, Darbinian N, Tatevosian G, Goetzl L. Maternal obesity: sex-specific in utero changes in fetal brain autophagy and mTOR. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2024; 32:1136-1143. [PMID: 38644654 DOI: 10.1002/oby.24017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal obesity affects 39.7% of reproductive-age women in the United States. Emerging research has suggested that in utero exposure to maternal obesity is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, but knowledge of underlying mechanisms in human samples is lacking. METHODS A matched case-control study was performed in women with singleton fetuses who were undergoing elective pregnancy termination at gestational ages 15 to 21 weeks. Maternal adiponectin levels from plasma were measured using ELISA kits. RNA was extracted from fetal brain tissue using RNeasy Mini Kit (QIAGEN). mRNA expression from ADIPOR1, ADIPOR2, MTOR, ATG5, ATG7, BECN1, and MAP1LC3B was quantified through the ΔΔCt method and using GAPDH as a housekeeping gene. RESULTS We have identified transcription patterns associated with inhibition of autophagy in male fetal brain tissue exposed to maternal obesity (↑MTOR, ↓ATG5, ↓ATG7, and ↓MAP1LC3B), with female fetuses demonstrating either no change in transcription or nonsignificant changes associated with increased autophagy. There was significant downregulation of the autophagy-associated gene BECN1 in both male and female individuals who were exposed to obesity in utero. CONCLUSIONS We present novel evidence suggesting that in utero exposure to maternal obesity in humans may significantly affect neurodevelopment, especially in male fetuses, through alterations in normal autophagy molecular mechanisms and with adiponectin as a potential mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Merabova
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin-Prevea, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lierni Ugartemendia
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Claudia Ibarra
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nune Darbinian
- Shriners Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair and Rehabilitation, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gabriel Tatevosian
- Shriners Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair and Rehabilitation, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura Goetzl
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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Ionescu MI, Zahiu CDM, Vlad A, Galos F, Gradisteanu Pircalabioru G, Zagrean AM, O'Mahony SM. Nurturing development: how a mother's nutrition shapes offspring's brain through the gut. Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-23. [PMID: 38781488 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2349336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a transformative period marked by profound physical and emotional changes, with far-reaching consequences for both mother and child. Emerging research has illustrated the pivotal role of a mother's diet during pregnancy in influencing the prenatal gut microbiome and subsequently shaping the neurodevelopment of her offspring. The intricate interplay between maternal gut health, nutrition, and neurodevelopmental outcomes has emerged as a captivating field of investigation within developmental science. Acting as a dynamic bridge between mother and fetus, the maternal gut microbiome, directly and indirectly, impacts the offspring's neurodevelopment through diverse pathways. This comprehensive review delves into a spectrum of studies, clarifying putative mechanisms through which maternal nutrition, by modulating the gut microbiota, orchestrates the early stages of brain development. Drawing insights from animal models and human cohorts, this work underscores the profound implications of maternal gut health for neurodevelopmental trajectories and offers a glimpse into the formulation of targeted interventions able to optimize the health of both mother and offspring. The prospect of tailored dietary recommendations for expectant mothers emerges as a promising and accessible intervention to foster the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, potentially leading to enhanced cognitive outcomes and reduced risks of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Ioana Ionescu
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Carmen Denise Mihaela Zahiu
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adelina Vlad
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Felicia Galos
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Section Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, Section-ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana-Maria Zagrean
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Siobhain M O'Mahony
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Lee YJ, Kim J, Kwon YH. Long-Term Effects of Maternal Fat Consumption on the Brain Transcriptome of Obesogenic Diet-Fed Young Adult Mice Offspring. J Nutr 2024; 154:1532-1539. [PMID: 38484978 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.03.010] [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] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substantial evidence has demonstrated that maternal high-fat (HF) consumption during gestation and lactation plays as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental alterations and subsequent neurological disorders. OBJECTIVE We investigated the regulatory mechanisms of maternal fat consumption on brain development and function in offspring at different ages. METHODS Mouse dams were fed either a control diet [low-fat (LF)] or an HF diet for 3 wk before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were killed at postnatal day (PD) 21 (LF21 and HF21), and the rest were fed an HF diet for 12 wk until the killing at PD 105 (LF105 and HF105). The expression levels of genes and proteins in the brains of offspring were analyzed by microarray and immunoblotting, respectively. RESULTS Maternal dietary fat content, offspring age, and their interaction affected the expression levels of 1215, 10,453, and 2105 genes, respectively. The 67 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the HF21 and LF21 groups were enriched in several Gene Ontology terms related to nervous system development. Among 45 DEGs of the HF105/LF105 comparison, several genes associated with neurotransmitter action are detected. In addition, we observed increased activation of the AMP-dependent protein kinase-cAMP response element binding protein signaling pathway in HF105/LF105 comparison. However, maternal fat content did not change the protein levels of amyloid-β and tau hyperphosphorylation, the markers of neuropathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Maternal HF feeding altered the expression of genes involved in the development and neurotransmitter system in the brains of PD 21 and HF diet-fed PD 105 offspring, respectively. Especially, the absence of overlap between DEGs at each comparison highlights the dynamic nature of alterations in gene expression in offspring of dams fed an HF diet. Further investigation on older adult offspring is necessary to elucidate the effects of maternal fat intake on the brain pathophysiology of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youn Ji Lee
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juhae Kim
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Hye Kwon
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
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Grace MR, Vora NL, Smeester L, Dotters-Katz SK, Fry RC, Bae-Jump V, Boggess K. Sex-Dependent Differences in Mouse Placental Gene Expression following a Maternal High-Fat Diet. Am J Perinatol 2024; 41:e1273-e1280. [PMID: 36608700 PMCID: PMC10427734 DOI: 10.1055/a-2008-8286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In utero fetal exposures may have sex-specific placental gene responses. Our objective was to measure sex-based differences in placental gene expression from dams fed high-fat diet (HFD) versus control diet (CD). STUDY DESIGN We fed timed pregnant Friend virus B-strain dams either a CD (n = 5) or an HFD (n = 5). We euthanized dams on embryonic day 17.5 to collect placentas. We extracted placental RNA and hybridized it to a customized 96-gene Nanostring panel focusing on angiogenic, inflammatory, and growth genes. We compared normalized gene expression between CD and HFD, stratified by fetal sex, using analysis of variance. Pathway analysis was used to further interpret the genomic data. RESULTS Pups from HFD-fed dams were heavier than those from CD-fed dams (0.97 ± 0.06 vs. 0.84 ± 0.08 g, p < 0.001). Male pups were heavier than females in the HFD (0.99 ± 0.05 vs. 0.94 ± 0.06 g, p = 0.004) but not CD (0.87 ± 0.08 vs. 0.83 ± 0.07 g, p = 0.10) group. No sex-based differences in placental gene expression in CD-fed dams were observed. Among HFD-fed dams, placentas from female pups exhibited upregulation of 15 genes (q = 0.01). Network analyses identified a cluster of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, cellular function and maintenance, and endocrine system development and function (p = 1 × 10-23). The observed female-specific increased gene expression following in utero HFD exposure was predicted to be regulated by insulin (p = 5.79 × 10-13). CONCLUSION In female compared with male pups, in utero exposure to HFD upregulated placental gene expression in 15 genes predicted to be regulated by insulin. Sex-specific differences in placental expression of these genes should be further investigated. KEY POINTS · Male pups were heavier than female pups at the time of sacrifice when dams were fed an HFD.. · HFD was associated with upregulated gene expression in female placentas.. · Female-specific increased gene was predicted to be regulated by insulin..
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Grace
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Neeta L. Vora
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lisa Smeester
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Sarah K. Dotters-Katz
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Victoria Bae-Jump
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, North Carolina
| | - Kim Boggess
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Guma E, Chakravarty MM. Immune Alterations in the Intrauterine Environment Shape Offspring Brain Development in a Sex-Specific Manner. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01260-5. [PMID: 38679357 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to immune dysregulation in utero or in early life has been shown to increase risk for neuropsychiatric illness. The sources of inflammation can be varied, including acute exposures due to maternal infection or acute stress, or persistent exposures due to chronic stress, obesity, malnutrition, or autoimmune diseases. These exposures may cause subtle alteration in brain development, structure, and function that can become progressively magnified across the life span, potentially increasing the likelihood of developing a neuropsychiatric conditions. There is some evidence that males are more susceptible to early-life inflammatory challenges than females. In this review, we discuss the various sources of in utero or early-life immune alteration and the known effects on fetal development with a sex-specific lens. To do so, we leveraged neuroimaging, behavioral, cellular, and neurochemical findings. Gaining clarity about how the intrauterine environment affects offspring development is critically important for informing preventive and early intervention measures that may buffer against the effects of these early-life risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Guma
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Batorsky R, Ceasrine AM, Shook LL, Kislal S, Bordt EA, Devlin BA, Perlis RH, Slonim DK, Bilbo SD, Edlow AG. Hofbauer cells and fetal brain microglia share transcriptional profiles and responses to maternal diet-induced obesity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.16.571680. [PMID: 38187648 PMCID: PMC10769274 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.16.571680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation is associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes, many mediated by in utero microglial programming. As microglia remain inaccessible throughout development, identification of noninvasive biomarkers reflecting fetal brain microglial programming could permit screening and intervention. We used lineage tracing to demonstrate the shared ontogeny between fetal brain macrophages (microglia) and fetal placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells) in a mouse model of maternal diet-induced obesity, and single-cell RNA-seq to demonstrate shared transcriptional programs. Comparison with human datasets demonstrated conservation of placental resident macrophage signatures between mice and humans. Single-cell RNA-seq identified common alterations in fetal microglial and Hofbauer cell gene expression induced by maternal obesity, as well as sex differences in these alterations. We propose that Hofbauer cells, which are easily accessible at birth, provide novel insights into fetal brain microglial programs, and may facilitate the early identification of offspring vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disorders in the setting of maternal exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexis M. Ceasrine
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lydia L. Shook
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sezen Kislal
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evan A. Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin A. Devlin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Roy H. Perlis
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Donna K. Slonim
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, MA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Andrea G. Edlow
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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8
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Shrivastava K, Swaminathan T, Barlotta A, Athreya V, Choudhry H, Rossi MA. Maternal overnutrition is associated with altered synaptic input to lateral hypothalamic area. Mol Metab 2023; 71:101702. [PMID: 36898526 PMCID: PMC10025284 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal overnutrition is associated with adverse outcomes in offspring, including increased risk for obesity and diabetes. Here, we aim to test the effects of maternal obesity on lateral hypothalamic feeding circuit function and determine the relationship with body weight regulation. METHODS Using a mouse model of maternal obesity, we assessed how perinatal overnutrition affected food intake and body weight regulation in adult offspring. We then used channelrhodopsin-assisted circuit mapping and electrophysiological recordings to assess the synaptic connectivity within an extended amygdala-lateral hypothalamic pathway. RESULTS We show that maternal overnutrition during gestation and throughout lactation produces offspring that are heavier than controls prior to weaning. When weaned onto chow, the body weights of over-nourished offspring normalize to control levels. However, when presented with highly palatable food as adults, both male and female maternally over-nourished offspring are highly susceptible to diet-induced obesity. This is associated with altered synaptic strength in an extended amygdala-lateral hypothalamic pathway, which is predicted by developmental growth rate. Additionally, lateral hypothalamic neurons receiving synaptic input from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis have enhanced excitatory input following maternal overnutrition which is predicted by early life growth rate. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results demonstrate one way in which maternal obesity rewires hypothalamic feeding circuits to predispose offspring to metabolic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mark A Rossi
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, USA; Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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9
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Anna S, Magdalena J. Editorial: Epigenomic contributions to autism spectrum disorders. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1177378. [PMID: 37144095 PMCID: PMC10151758 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1177378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Starnawska Anna
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, CGPM, and Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Starnawska Anna
| | - Janecka Magdalena
- Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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10
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Appetitive Motivation and Associated Neurobiology Change Differentially across the Life Course of Mouse Offspring Exposed to Peri- and Postnatal High Fat Feeding. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14235161. [PMID: 36501191 PMCID: PMC9735866 DOI: 10.3390/nu14235161] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in neural pathways that regulate appetitive motivation may contribute to increased obesity risk in offspring born to mothers fed a high fat (HF) diet. However, current findings on the impact of maternal obesity on motivation in offspring are inconclusive, and there is no information about the long-lasting effects in aged animals. This study examined the longitudinal effect of perinatal and chronic postnatal HF intake on appetitive motivation in young and aged offspring. Female C57Bl/6 were fed either a control (C) or HF diet before mating through to lactation. At weaning, offspring were maintained on the C or HF diet, generating the following four diet groups: C/C, C/HF, HF/C, and HF/HF based on the pre/post weaning diet. At 6 months, motivation was higher in HF/C females, but lower in male and female C/HF and HF/HF mice. By 12 months, this difference was lost, as C-fed animals became less motivated, while motivation increased in HF-fed mice. The mRNA levels of dopamine receptor 1 and 2 increased with age, while cannabinoid receptor 1 and μ-opioid receptor expression remained stable or decreased in mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic pathways. Results from this study suggest that perinatal and chronic postnatal HF feeding produced opposite effects on appetitive motivation in young adult offspring mice, which was also reflected in the shift in motivation over time. These results have significant implications for patterns of hedonic eating across the life course and the relative risk of obesity at different time points.
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11
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Hufnagel A, Grant ID, Aiken CEM. Glucose and oxygen in the early intrauterine environment and their role in developmental abnormalities. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 131:25-34. [PMID: 35410716 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.041] [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: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The early life environment can have profound impacts on the developing conceptus in terms of both growth and morphogenesis. These impacts can manifest in a variety of ways, including congenital fetal anomalies, placental dysfunction with subsequent effects on fetal growth, and adverse perinatal outcomes, or via effects on long-term health outcomes that may not be detected until later childhood or adulthood. Two key examples of environmental influences on early development are explored: maternal hyperglycaemia and gestational hypoxia. These are increasingly common pregnancy exposures worldwide, with potentially profound impacts on population health. We explore what is known regarding the mechanisms by which these environmental exposures can impact early intrauterine development and thus result in adverse outcomes in the immediate, short, and long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Hufnagel
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Imogen D Grant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, Box 223, The Rosie Hospital and NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge CB2 0SW, UK
| | - Catherine E M Aiken
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, Box 223, The Rosie Hospital and NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge CB2 0SW, UK; University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
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12
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Laufer BI, Hasegawa Y, Zhang Z, Hogrefe CE, Del Rosso LA, Haapanen L, Hwang H, Bauman MD, Van de Water J, Taha AY, Slupsky CM, Golub MS, Capitanio JP, VandeVoort CA, Walker CK, LaSalle JM. Multi-omic brain and behavioral correlates of cell-free fetal DNA methylation in macaque maternal obesity models. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5538. [PMID: 36130949 PMCID: PMC9492781 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33162-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) risk. We utilized integrative multi-omics to examine maternal obesity effects on offspring neurodevelopment in rhesus macaques by comparison to lean controls and two interventions. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) from longitudinal maternal blood-derived cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) significantly overlapped with DMRs from infant brain. The DMRs were enriched for neurodevelopmental functions, methylation-sensitive developmental transcription factor motifs, and human NDD DMRs identified from brain and placenta. Brain and cffDNA methylation levels from a large region overlapping mir-663 correlated with maternal obesity, metabolic and immune markers, and infant behavior. A DUX4 hippocampal co-methylation network correlated with maternal obesity, infant behavior, infant hippocampal lipidomic and metabolomic profiles, and maternal blood measurements of DUX4 cffDNA methylation, cytokines, and metabolites. We conclude that in this model, maternal obesity was associated with changes in the infant brain and behavior, and these differences were detectable in pregnancy through integrative analyses of cffDNA methylation with immune and metabolic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin I Laufer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yu Hasegawa
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Laura A Del Rosso
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Lori Haapanen
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Hyeyeon Hwang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ameer Y Taha
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Carolyn M Slupsky
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Mari S Golub
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Catherine A VandeVoort
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cheryl K Walker
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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13
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Urbonaite G, Knyzeliene A, Bunn FS, Smalskys A, Neniskyte U. The impact of maternal high-fat diet on offspring neurodevelopment. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:909762. [PMID: 35937892 PMCID: PMC9354026 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.909762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A maternal high-fat diet affects offspring neurodevelopment with long-term consequences on their brain health and behavior. During the past three decades, obesity has rapidly increased in the whole human population worldwide, including women of reproductive age. It is known that maternal obesity caused by a high-fat diet may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. A maternal high-fat diet can affect offspring neurodevelopment due to inflammatory activation of the maternal gut, adipose tissue, and placenta, mirrored by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both maternal and fetal circulation. Furthermore, a maternal high fat diet causes gut microbial dysbiosis further contributing to increased inflammatory milieu during pregnancy and lactation, thus disturbing both prenatal and postnatal neurodevelopment of the offspring. In addition, global molecular and cellular changes in the offspring's brain may occur due to epigenetic modifications including the downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and the activation of the endocannabinoid system. These neurodevelopmental aberrations are reflected in behavioral deficits observed in animals, corresponding to behavioral phenotypes of certain neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. Here we reviewed recent findings from rodent models and from human studies to reveal potential mechanisms by which a maternal high-fat diet interferes with the neurodevelopment of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintare Urbonaite
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Agne Knyzeliene
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Fanny Sophia Bunn
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Adomas Smalskys
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Urte Neniskyte
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- VU LSC-EMBL Partnership for Genome Editing Technologies, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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14
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Zhou F, Ebea P, Mutai E, Wang H, Sukreet S, Navazesh S, Dogan H, Li W, Cui J, Ji P, Ramirez DMO, Zempleni J. Small Extracellular Vesicles in Milk Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier in Murine Cerebral Cortex Endothelial Cells and Promote Dendritic Complexity in the Hippocampus and Brain Function in C57BL/6J Mice. Front Nutr 2022; 9:838543. [PMID: 35600828 PMCID: PMC9121399 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.838543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human milk contains large amounts of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and their microRNA cargos, whereas infant formulas contain only trace amounts of sEVs and microRNAs. We assessed the transport of sEVs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and sEV accumulation in distinct regions of the brain in brain endothelial cells and suckling mice. We further assessed sEV-dependent gene expression profiles and effects on the dendritic complexity of hippocampal granule cells and phenotypes of EV depletion in neonate, juvenile and adult mice. The transfer of sEVs across the BBB was assessed by using fluorophore-labeled bovine sEVs in brain endothelial bEnd.3 monolayers and dual chamber systems, and in wild-type newborn pups fostered to sEV and cargo tracking (ECT) dams that express sEVs labeled with a CD63-eGFP fusion protein for subsequent analysis by serial two-photon tomography and staining with anti-eGFP antibodies. Effects of EVs on gene expression and dendritic architecture of granule cells was analyzed in hippocampi from juvenile mice fed sEV and RNA-depleted (ERD) and sEV and RNA-sufficient (ERS) diets by using RNA-sequencing analysis and Golgi-Cox staining followed by integrated neuronal tracing and morphological analysis of neuronal dendrites, respectively. Spatial learning and severity of kainic acid-induced seizures were assessed in mice fed ERD and ERS diets. bEnd.3 cells internalized sEVs by using a saturable transport mechanism and secreted miR-34a across the basal membrane. sEVs penetrated the entire brain in fostering experiments; major regions of accumulation included the hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum. Two hundred ninety-five genes were differentially expressed in hippocampi from mice fed ERD and ERS diets; high-confidence gene networks included pathways implicated in axon guidance and calcium signaling. Juvenile pups fed the ERD diet had reduced dendritic complexity of dentate granule cells in the hippocampus, scored nine-fold lower in the Barnes maze test of spatial learning and memory, and the severity of seizures was 5-fold higher following kainic acid administration in adult mice fed the ERD diet compared to mice fed the ERS diet. We conclude that sEVs cross the BBB and contribute toward optimal neuronal development, spatial learning and memory, and resistance to kainic acid-induced seizures in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhou
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Pearl Ebea
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Ezra Mutai
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Haichuan Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Sonal Sukreet
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Shya Navazesh
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Haluk Dogan
- School of Computing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Wenhao Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Juan Cui
- School of Computing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Peng Ji
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Denise M. O. Ramirez
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Janos Zempleni
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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15
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Gawlińska K, Gawliński D, Borczyk M, Korostyński M, Przegaliński E, Filip M. A Maternal High-Fat Diet during Early Development Provokes Molecular Changes Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Rat Offspring Brain. Nutrients 2021; 13:3212. [PMID: 34579089 PMCID: PMC8467420 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disruptive neurodevelopmental disorder manifested by abnormal social interactions, communication, emotional circuits, and repetitive behaviors and is more often diagnosed in boys than in girls. It is postulated that ASD is caused by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetics provides a mechanistic link between exposure to an unbalanced maternal diet and persistent modifications in gene expression levels that can lead to phenotype changes in the offspring. To better understand the impact of the early development environment on the risk of ASD in offspring, we assessed the effect of maternal high-fat (HFD), high-carbohydrate, and mixed diets on molecular changes in adolescent and young adult offspring frontal cortex and hippocampus. Our results showed that maternal HFD significantly altered the expression of 48 ASD-related genes in the frontal cortex of male offspring. Moreover, exposure to maternal HFD led to sex- and age-dependent changes in the protein levels of ANKRD11, EIF4E, NF1, SETD1B, SHANK1 and TAOK2, as well as differences in DNA methylation levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the offspring. Taken together, it was concluded that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation periods can lead to abnormal brain development within the transcription and translation of ASD-related genes mainly in male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawlińska
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Borczyk
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Michał Korostyński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Edmund Przegaliński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
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16
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Kulhanek D, Rao RB, Paulsen ME. Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice. Obes Sci Pract 2021; 7:462-472. [PMID: 34401204 PMCID: PMC8346374 DOI: 10.1002/osp4.506] [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: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex-specific mechanisms explaining the association between mothers with obesity and the development of obesity in children are poorly characterized. Permanent changes in fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression caused by exposure to overnutrition in utero may program aberrant energy homeostasis, thereby predisposing the offspring to obesity. This study explores sex differences in brain GR expression using an established mouse model of overnutrition during pregnancy. METHODS Female C57Bl/6J mice were fed control (CON) or high-fat-high-sucrose (HFHS) diets. Dam cholesterol, insulin, and triglycerides were measured by colorimetric assays. Fetal corticosterone exposure was measured by placental Abca1, Hsd11β1, Hsd11β2, and brain Nr3c1 (GR); Pomc expression measured by RT-qPCR. RESULTS Female, but not male, HFHS fetuses had 46% decreased brain GR and twofold increased Pomc expression. There was decreased Abca1 and Hsd11β1 but not Hsd11β2 expression in HFHS placentas. Caloric and sucrose intake, but not fat intake, in dams inversely correlated with fetal GR expression in both sexes. Excess sucrose consumption by dams inversely correlated with female fetal GR and directly correlated with female fetal Pomc expression. CONCLUSIONS Excess sucrose consumption in pregnant dams caused lower GR and higher Pomc expression in the female fetal brain. Clinical investigation of excess sucrose intake during pregnancy and its subsequent effect on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and appetite in offspring may lead to novel, sex-specific obesity prevention strategies in the development of obesity in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Kulhanek
- Department of PediatricsDivision of NeonatologyUniversity of Minnesota Medical SchoolMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Raghavendra B. Rao
- Department of PediatricsDivision of NeonatologyUniversity of Minnesota Medical SchoolMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Megan E. Paulsen
- Department of PediatricsDivision of NeonatologyUniversity of Minnesota Medical SchoolMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
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17
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The impact of maternal obesity on childhood neurodevelopment. J Perinatol 2021; 41:928-939. [PMID: 33249428 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-00871-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There is growing clinical and experimental evidence to suggest that maternal obesity increases children's susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Given the worldwide obesity epidemic, it is crucial that we acquire a thorough understanding of the available evidence, identify gaps in knowledge, and develop an agenda for intervention. This review synthesizes human and animal studies investigating the association between maternal obesity and offspring brain health. It also highlights key mechanisms underlying these effects, including maternal and fetal inflammation, alterations to the microbiome, epigenetic modifications of neurotrophic genes, and impaired dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling. Lastly, this review highlights several proposed interventions and priorities for future investigation.
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18
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Kislal S, Shook LL, Edlow AG. Perinatal exposure to maternal obesity: Lasting cardiometabolic impact on offspring. Prenat Diagn 2020; 40:1109-1125. [PMID: 32643194 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from epidemiological, clinical, and animal model studies clearly demonstrates that prenatal and lactational maternal obesity and high-fat diet consumption are associated with cardiometabolic morbidity in offspring. Fetal and offspring sex may be an important effect modifier. Adverse offspring cardiometabolic outcomes observed in the setting of maternal obesity include an increased risk for obesity, features of metabolic syndrome (hypertension, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, increased adiposity), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This review article synthesizes human and animal data linking maternal obesity and high-fat diet consumption in pregnancy and lactation to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in offspring. We review key mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, pancreatic, liver, and central brain reward programming in obesity-exposed offspring, and how such malprogramming contributes to offspring cardiometabolic morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sezen Kislal
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lydia L Shook
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Shook LL, Kislal S, Edlow AG. Fetal brain and placental programming in maternal obesity: A review of human and animal model studies. Prenat Diagn 2020; 40:1126-1137. [PMID: 32362000 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Both human epidemiologic and animal model studies demonstrate that prenatal and lactational exposure to maternal obesity and high-fat diet are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Neurodevelopmental outcomes described in offspring of obese women include cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, disordered eating, and propensity for reward-driven behavior, among others. This review synthesizes human and animal data linking maternal obesity and high-fat diet consumption to abnormal fetal brain development, and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric morbidity in offspring. It highlights key mechanisms by which maternal obesity and maternal diet impact fetal and offspring development, and sex differences in offspring programming. In addition, we review placental effects of maternal obesity, and the role the placenta might play as an indicator vs mediator of fetal programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L Shook
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sezen Kislal
- Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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20
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Cárdenas-Tueme M, Montalvo-Martínez L, Maldonado-Ruiz R, Camacho-Morales A, Reséndez-Pérez D. Neurodegenerative Susceptibility During Maternal Nutritional Programing: Are Central and Peripheral Innate Immune Training Relevant? Front Neurosci 2020; 14:13. [PMID: 32116490 PMCID: PMC7010854 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal overnutrition modulates body weight, development of metabolic failure and, potentially, neurodegenerative susceptibility in the offspring. Overnutrition sets a chronic pro-inflammatory profile that integrates peripheral and central immune activation nodes, damaging neuronal physiology and survival. Innate immune cells exposed to hypercaloric diets might experience trained immunity. Here, we address the role of maternal overnutrition as a trigger for central and peripheral immune training and its contribution to neurodegeneration and the molecular nodes implicated in the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway leading to immune training. We propose that maternal overnutrition leads to peripheral or central immune training that favor neurodegenerative susceptibility in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Cárdenas-Tueme
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Larisa Montalvo-Martínez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Roger Maldonado-Ruiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Alberto Camacho-Morales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad de Neurometabolismo, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Diana Reséndez-Pérez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
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21
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Alves JM, Luo S, Chow T, Herting M, Xiang AH, Page KA. Sex differences in the association between prenatal exposure to maternal obesity and hippocampal volume in children. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01522. [PMID: 31903710 PMCID: PMC7010582 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Animal studies have shown that male but not female offspring exposed to maternal obesity have abnormal hippocampal development. Similar sex differences were observed in animal models of developmental programming by prenatal stress or maternal diabetes. We aimed to translate this work into humans by examining sex-specific effects of exposure to maternal obesity on hippocampal volume in children. METHODS Eighty-eight children (37 boys and 51 girls) aged 7-11 years completed the study. Maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) was obtained from electronic medical records. A high-resolution anatomical scan was performed using a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Total hippocampal volume and hippocampal subfield volumes were analyzed using FreeSurfer 6.0. Linear regression was used to investigate sex differences in relationships between maternal prepregnancy BMI and child hippocampal volume. RESULTS Maternal prepregnancy BMI ranged from 19.0 to 50.4 kg/m2 . We observed a significant interaction between maternal prepregnancy BMI and sex on total hippocampal volume (p < .001) such that boys (r = -.39, p = .018) but not girls (r = .11, p = .45) had a significant negative relationship between maternal prepregnancy BMI and total hippocampal volume. This relationship in boys remained significant after adjusting for child and maternal covariates (β = -126.98, p = .012). The sex interactions with prepregnancy BMI were consistently observed in hippocampal subfields CA1 (p = .008), CA2/3 (p = .016), CA4 (p = .002), dentate gyrus (p < .001), and subiculum (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Our results support findings in animal models and suggest that boys may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of exposure to maternal obesity on hippocampal development than girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin M Alves
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shan Luo
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ting Chow
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Megan Herting
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anny H Xiang
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen A Page
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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22
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Edlow AG, Guedj F, Sverdlov D, Pennings JLA, Bianchi DW. Significant Effects of Maternal Diet During Pregnancy on the Murine Fetal Brain Transcriptome and Offspring Behavior. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1335. [PMID: 31920502 PMCID: PMC6928003 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal over- and undernutrition in pregnancy plays a critical role in fetal brain development and function. The effects of different maternal diet compositions on intrauterine programing of the fetal brain is a lesser-explored area. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of two chowmaternal diets on fetal brain gene expression signatures, fetal/neonatal growth, and neonatal and adult behavior in a mouse model. METHODS Throughout pregnancy and lactation, female C57Bl/6J mice were fed one of two standard, commercially available chow diets (pellet versus powder). The powdered chow diet was relatively deficient in micronutrients and enriched for carbohydrates and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the pelleted chow. RNA was extracted from embryonic day 15.5 forebrains and hybridized to whole genome expression microarrays (N = 5/maternal diet group). Functional analyses of significantly differentially expressed fetal brain genes were performed using Ingenuity Pathways Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Neonatal behavior was assessed using a validated scale (N = 62 pellet-exposed and 31 powder-exposed). Hippocampal learning, locomotor behavior, and motor coordination were assessed in a subset of adults using fear conditioning, open field testing, and Rotarod tests (N = 16 pellet-exposed, 14 powder-exposed). RESULTS Comparing powdered to pelleted chow diets, neither maternal weight trajectory in pregnancy nor embryo size differed. Maternal powdered chow diet was associated with 1647 differentially expressed fetal brain genes. Functional analyses identified significant upregulation of canonical pathways and upstream regulators involved in cell cycle regulation, synaptic plasticity, and sensory nervous system development in the fetal brain, and significant downregulation of pathways related to cell and embryo death. Pathways related to DNA damage response, brain immune response, amino acid and fatty acid transport, and dopaminergic signaling were significantly dysregulated. Powdered chow-exposed neonates were significantly longer but not heavier than pelleted chow-exposed counterparts. On neonatal behavioral testing, powdered chow-exposed neonates achieved coordination- and strength-related milestones significantly earlier, but sensory maturation reflexes significantly later. On adult behavioral testing, powdered chow-exposed offspring exhibited hyperactivity and hippocampal learning deficits. CONCLUSION In wild-type offspring, two diets that differed primarily with respect to micronutrient composition had significant effects on the fetal brain transcriptome, neonatal and adult behavior. These effects did not appear to be mediated by alterations in gross maternal nutritional status nor fetal/neonatal weight. Maternal dietary content is an important variable to consider for investigators evaluating fetal brain development and offspring behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G. Edlow
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Faycal Guedj
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Deanna Sverdlov
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Diana W. Bianchi
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
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23
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Contu L, Nizari S, Heath CJ, Hawkes CA. Pre- and Post-natal High Fat Feeding Differentially Affects the Structure and Integrity of the Neurovascular Unit of 16-Month Old Male and Female Mice. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1045. [PMID: 31632236 PMCID: PMC6783577 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Compelling experimental and clinical evidence supports a role for maternal obesity in offspring health. Adult children of obese mothers are at greater risk of obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. These offspring may also be at greater risk of age-related neurodegenerative diseases for which mid-life obesity is a risk factor. Rodent diet-induced obesity models have shown that high fat (HF) diet consumption damages the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in the adult brain. However, there is currently little information about the effect of chronic HF feeding on the BBB of aged animals. Moreover, the long-term consequences of maternal obesity on the cerebrovasculature of aged offspring are not known. This study determined the impact of pre- and post-natal HF diet on the structure and integrity of cerebral blood vessels in aged male and female mice. Female C57Bl/6 mice were fed either a 10% fat control (C) or 45% HF diet before mating and during gestation and lactation. At weaning, male and female offspring were fed the C or HF diet until sacrifice at 16-months of age. Both dams and offspring fed the HF diet weighed significantly more than mice fed the C diet. Post-natal HF diet exposure increased hippocampal BBB leakiness in female offspring, in association with loss of astrocyte endfoot coverage of arteries. Markers of tight junctions, pericytes or smooth muscle cells were not altered by pre- or post-natal HF diet. Male offspring born to HF-fed mothers showed decreased parenchymal GFAP expression compared to offspring of mothers fed C diet, while microglial and macrophage markers were higher in the same female diet group. In addition, female offspring exposed to the HF diet for their entire lifespan showed more significant changes in vessel structure, BBB permeability and inflammation compared to male animals. These results suggest that the long-term impact of prenatal HF diet on the integrity of cerebral blood vessels differs between male and female offspring depending on the post-natal diet. This may have implications for the prevention and management of age- and obesity-related cerebrovascular diseases that differentially affect men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Contu
- School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Shereen Nizari
- School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Heath
- School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Cheryl A Hawkes
- School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
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Shin BC, Ghosh S, Dai Y, Byun SY, Calkins KL, Devaskar SU. Early life high-fat diet exposure maintains glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity with a fatty liver and small brain size in the adult offspring. Nutr Res 2019; 69:67-81. [PMID: 31639589 PMCID: PMC6934265 DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2019.08.004] [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: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Diet during pregnancy has long lasting consequences on the offspring, warranting a study on the impact of early exposure to a high fat diet on the adult offspring. We hypothesized that a prenatal n-6 enriched diet will have adverse metabolic outcomes on the adult offspring that may be reversed with a postnatal n-3 enriched diet. To test this hypothesis, we examined the adult offspring from three groups: (1) n-6 group: during gestation and lactation, dams consumed an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched diet, (2) n-3 group: gestational n-6 diet was followed by an n-3 enriched diet during lactation, and (3) a control (CD) group that received standard diet throughout gestation and lactation. Offspring from all groups weaned to a control diet ad libitum. Beginning at postnatal day 2 (P < .03) and persisting at 360 days in males (P < .04), an increase in hypothalamic AgRP expression occurred in the n-6 and n-3 groups, with an increase in food intake (P = .01), and the n-3 group displaying lower body (P < .03) and brain (P < .05) weights. At 360 days, the n-6 and n-3 groups remained glucose tolerant and insulin sensitive, with increased phosphorylated-AMP-activated protein kinase (P < .05). n-6 group developed hepatic steatosis with reduced hepatic reflected as higher plasma microRNA-122 (P < .04) that targets pAMPK. We conclude that early life exposure to n-6 and n-3 led to hypothalamic AgRP-related higher food intake, with n-6 culminating in a fatty liver partially mitigated by postnatal n-3. While both diets preserved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, postnatal n-3 displayed detrimental effects on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Chul Shin
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Neonatal Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752
| | - Shubhamoy Ghosh
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Neonatal Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752
| | - Yun Dai
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Neonatal Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752
| | - Shin Yun Byun
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Neonatal Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752
| | - Kara L Calkins
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Neonatal Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752
| | - Sherin U Devaskar
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Neonatal Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752.
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25
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Christians JK, Lennie KI, Wild LK, Garcha R. Effects of high-fat diets on fetal growth in rodents: a systematic review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2019; 17:39. [PMID: 30992002 PMCID: PMC6469066 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0482-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal nutrition during pregnancy has life-long consequences for offspring. However, the effects of maternal overnutrition and/ or obesity on fetal growth remain poorly understood, e.g., it is not clear why birthweight is increased in some obese pregnancies but not in others. Maternal obesity is frequently studied using rodents on high-fat diets, but effects on fetal growth are inconsistent. The purpose of this review is to identify factors that contribute to reduced or increased fetal growth in rodent models of maternal overnutrition. METHODS We searched Web of Science and screened 2173 abstracts and 328 full texts for studies that fed mice or rats diets providing ~ 45% or ~ 60% calories from fat for 3 weeks or more prior to pregnancy. We identified 36 papers matching the search criteria that reported birthweight or fetal weight. RESULTS Studies that fed 45% fat diets to mice or 60% fat diets to rats generally did not show effects on fetal growth. Feeding a 45% fat diet to rats generally reduced birth and fetal weight. Feeding mice a 60% fat diet for 4-9 weeks prior to pregnancy tended to increase in fetal growth, whereas feeding this diet for a longer period tended to reduce fetal growth. CONCLUSIONS The high-fat diets used most often with rodents do not closely match Western diets and frequently reduce fetal growth, which is not a typical feature of obese human pregnancies. Adoption of standard protocols that more accurately mimic effects on fetal growth observed in obese human pregnancies will improve translational impact in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K. Christians
- 0000 0004 1936 7494grid.61971.38Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Kendra I. Lennie
- 0000 0004 1936 7494grid.61971.38Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Lisa K. Wild
- 0000 0004 1936 7494grid.61971.38Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Raajan Garcha
- 0000 0004 1936 7494grid.61971.38Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
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26
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Grace MR, Dotters-Katz SK, Zhou C, Manuck T, Boggess K, Bae-Jump V. Effect of a High-Fat Diet and Metformin on Placental mTOR Signaling in Mice. AJP Rep 2019; 9:e138-e143. [PMID: 30972229 PMCID: PMC6456331 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1683362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study was aimed to measure the effects of a high-fat diet and metformin on placental mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in mice. Study Design Pregnant friend virus B (FVB)-strain mice were allocated on embryonic day (e) 0.5 to one of four groups; group 1: control diet (CD, 10% fat) + control treatment (CT), group 2: CD + metformin treatment (MT), group 3: high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat) + CT, and group 4: HFD + MT. Metformin (2.5 mg/mL) was provided in water; CT mice received water. Fetuses and placentas were collected. Western blot measured placental p-Akt and p-S6 expression. Results 20 dams (five/group) and 192 fetuses were studied. Compared with CD-fed, HFD-fed dams had higher placental p-Akt protein expression ( p < 0.0001). Among HFD-dams, placental p-Akt was higher in metformin-treated compared with control-treated ( p < 0.001). Among CD-fed dams, there was no significant difference in placental p-S6 expression in MT versus CT groups. Among HFD-fed dams placental p-S6 expression was lower in those exposed to metformin-treated versus controls ( p = 0.001). Conclusion Increased placental mTOR signaling and metformin inhibition of placental mTOR signaling only occurred in the presence of an HFD exposure. These findings suggest that metformin may modulate placental mTOR signaling in the presence of metabolic exposures during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Grace
- Tennessee Maternal Fetal Medicine and the University of Tennessee, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Medicine Education, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Sarah K Dotters-Katz
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Chunxiao Zhou
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Tracy Manuck
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Carolina Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kim Boggess
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Victoria Bae-Jump
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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27
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Codagnone MG, Spichak S, O'Mahony SM, O'Leary OF, Clarke G, Stanton C, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Programming Bugs: Microbiota and the Developmental Origins of Brain Health and Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:150-163. [PMID: 30064690 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It has been nearly 30 years since Dr. David Barker first highlighted the importance of prenatal factors in contributing to the developmental origins of adult disease. This concept was later broadened to include postnatal events. It is clear that the interaction between genetic predisposition and early life environmental exposures is key in this regard. However, recent research has also identified another important factor in the microbiota-the trillions of microorganisms that inhabit key body niches, including the vagina and gastrointestinal tract. Because the composition of these maternal microbiome sites has been linked to maternal metabolism and is also vertically transmitted to offspring, changes in the maternal microbiota are poised to significantly affect the newborn. In fact, several lines of evidence show that the gut microbiota interacts with diet, drugs, and stress both prenatally and postnatally and that these exogenous factors could also affect the dynamic changes in the microbiota composition occurring during pregnancy. Animal models have shown great utility in illuminating how these disruptions result in behavioral and brain morphological phenotypes reminiscent of psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders). Increasing evidence points to critical interactions among the microbiota, host genetics, and both the prenatal and postnatal environments to temporally program susceptibility to psychiatric disorders later in life. Sex-specific phenotypes may be programmed through the influence of the microbiota on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and neuroimmune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin G Codagnone
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Simon Spichak
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Siobhain M O'Mahony
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Olivia F O'Leary
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research and Cork University Maternity Hospital, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Catherine Stanton
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research and Cork University Maternity Hospital, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G Dinan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Maternal High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Modifies Histone Binding and Expression of Oxtr in Offspring Hippocampus in a Sex-Specific Manner. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020329. [PMID: 30650536 PMCID: PMC6359595 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity during pregnancy increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Epigenetic deregulation associates with many neurodevelopmental disorders, and recent evidence indicates that maternal nutritional status can alter chromatin marks in the offspring brain. Thus, maternal obesity may disrupt epigenetic regulation of gene expression during offspring neurodevelopment. Using a C57BL/6 mouse model, we investigated whether maternal high fat diet (mHFD)-induced obesity alters the expression of genes previously implicated in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders within the Gestational Day 17.5 (GD 17.5) offspring hippocampus. We found significant two-fold upregulation of oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) mRNA in the hippocampus of male, but not female, GD 17.5 offspring from mHFD-induced obese dams (p < 0.05). To determine whether altered histone binding at the Oxtr gene promoter may underpin these transcriptional changes, we then performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Consistent with the Oxtr transcriptional changes, we observed increased binding of active histone mark H3K9Ac at the Oxtr transcriptional start site (TSS) in the hippocampus of mHFD male (p < 0.05), but not female, offspring. Together, these data indicate an increased vulnerability of male offspring to maternal obesity-induced changes in chromatin remodeling processes that regulate gene expression in the developing hippocampus, and contributes to our understanding of how early life nutrition affects the offspring brain epigenome.
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29
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Gestational diabetes alters microRNA signatures in human feto-placental endothelial cells depending on fetal sex. Clin Sci (Lond) 2018; 132:2437-2449. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20180825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, have emerged as important, epigenetic regulators of endothelial function. Metabolic disturbances such as diabetes alter miRNA expression. In adults, the miRNA transcriptome as well as endothelial function differ between the sexes. Here, we hypothesized that metabolic disturbances associated with gestational diabetes (GDM) alter miRNA signatures in feto-placental endothelial cells (fpEC), dependent on fetal sex. We isolated human primary fpEC after normal and GDM-complicated pregnancies with male and female neonates and screened for differential miRNA expression using next-generation miRNA sequencing. To test for miRNAs commonly regulated in fpEC of female and male progeny, data were stratified for fetal sex and maternal body mass index (BMI). Analyses were also performed separately for female and male fpEC, again accounting for maternal BMI as covariate. Potential biological pathways regulated by the altered set of miRNAs were determined using mirPath software. Maternal GDM altered 26 miRNA signatures when male and female fpEC were analyzed together. Separate analysis of male versus female fpEC revealed 22 GDM affected miRNAs in the females and only 4 in the males, without overlap. Biological functions potentially modulated by the affected miRNAs related to ‘Protein Processing in Endoplasmic Reticulum’ and ‘Proteoglycans in Cancer’. Maternal GDM alters miRNA signatures in fpEC, and biological functions affected by these miRNAs relate to well-known adverse functional consequences of diabetes on endothelium. GDM effects were highly dependent on fetal sex with miRNA signatures in female fpEC being more susceptible to metabolic derangements of GDM than miRNAs in male fpEC.
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30
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Edlow AG, Glass RM, Smith CJ, Tran PK, James K, Bilbo S. Placental Macrophages: A Window Into Fetal Microglial Function in Maternal Obesity. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 77:60-68. [PMID: 30465871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal placental macrophages and microglia (resident brain macrophages) have a common origin in the fetal yolk sac. Yolk-sac-derived macrophages comprise the permanent pool of brain microglia throughout an individual's lifetime. Inappropriate fetal microglial priming may therefore have lifelong neurodevelopmental consequences, but direct evaluation of microglial function in a living fetus or neonate is impossible. We sought to test the hypothesis that maternal obesity would prime both placental macrophages and fetal brain microglia to overrespond to an immune challenge, thus providing a window into microglial function using placental cells. Obesity was induced in C57BL/6 J mice using a 60% high-fat diet. On embryonic day 17.5, fetal brain microglia and corresponding CD11b + placental cells were isolated from fresh tissue. Cells were treated with media or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production by stimulated and unstimulated cells was quantified via ELISA. We demonstrate for the first time that the proinflammatory cytokine production of CD11b + placental cells is strongly correlated with that of brain microglia (Spearman's ρ = 0.73, p = 0.002) in the setting of maternal obesity. Maternal obesity-exposed CD11b + cells had an exaggerated response to LPS compared to controls, with a 5.1-fold increase in TNF-α production in placentas (p = 0.003) and 3.8-fold increase in TNF-α production in brains (p = 0.002). In sex-stratified analyses, only male obesity-exposed brains and placentas had significant increase in TNF-α production in response to LPS. Taken together, these data suggest that maternal obesity primes both placental macrophages and fetal brain microglia to overproduce a proinflammatory cytokine in response to immune challenge. Male brain and placental immune response is more marked than female in this setting. Given that fetal microglial priming may impact neuroimmune function throughout the lifespan, these data could provide insight into the male predominance of certain neurodevelopmental morbidities linked to maternal obesity, including cognitive dysfunction, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD. Placental CD11b+ macrophages may have the potential to serve as an accessible biomarker of aberrant fetal brain immune activation in maternal obesity. This finding may have broader implications for assaying the impact of other maternal exposures on fetal brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Edlow
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology
| | - Ruthy M Glass
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology
| | - Caroline J Smith
- Pediatrics and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Lurie Center for Autism, MassGeneral Hospital for Children
| | - Phuong Kim Tran
- Pediatrics and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Lurie Center for Autism, MassGeneral Hospital for Children
| | - Kaitlyn James
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Deborah Kelly Center for Outcomes Research
| | - Staci Bilbo
- Pediatrics and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Lurie Center for Autism, MassGeneral Hospital for Children
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31
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Mhatre M, Adeli S, Norwitz E, Craigo S, Phillippe M, Edlow A. The Effect of Maternal Obesity on Placental Cell-Free DNA Release in a Mouse Model. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:1218-1224. [PMID: 30453834 DOI: 10.1177/1933719118811647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fetal fraction of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal plasma is decreased in obese women. The underlying mechanism is not well understood. The amount of cfDNA released from the placenta has not been directly examined in maternal obesity. OBJECTIVE We sought to quantify release of cfDNA from the placenta and fetal membranes in maternal diet-induced obesity using explant cultures in an established mouse model. STUDY DESIGN C57BL6/J females were fed either 60% high-fat diet or 10% fat-matched control diet for 14 weeks prepregnancy and throughout gestation. Placentas and fetal membranes were collected on e18 and randomly allocated to time 0-, 1-, or 6-hour culture times. The CfDNA was isolated from culture media, quantified, and normalized to tissue weight. RESULTS Placentas from obese dams released significantly less cfDNA compared to those of lean dams at time 0 (45.8 ± 4.3 ng/mg vs 65.6 ± 7.9 ng/mg, P = .02). Absolute cfDNA levels increased with longer placental culture, with no significant differences between obese and lean dams at 1 and 6 hours. Membranes released significantly less cfDNA than did placentas at every time point. CONCLUSIONS Maternal obesity is associated with decreased release of cfDNA from the placenta compared to lean controls immediately after tissue harvest. This may provide an alternative explanation for the lower fetal fraction of cfDNA noted in maternal obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohak Mhatre
- 1 Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sharareh Adeli
- 2 Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Errol Norwitz
- 1 Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,3 Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sabrina Craigo
- 1 Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,3 Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Phillippe
- 2 Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,4 Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Edlow is now with Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology and Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA, and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Edlow
- 1 Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,3 Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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32
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Mukhopadhyay A, Thomas T, Bosch RJ, Dwarkanath P, Thomas A, Duggan CP, Kurpad AV. Fetal sex modifies the effect of maternal macronutrient intake on the incidence of small-for-gestational-age births: a prospective observational cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr 2018; 108:814-820. [PMID: 30239558 PMCID: PMC6927877 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal macronutrient intake is likely to play a pivotal role in fetoplacental growth. Male fetuses grow faster and their growth is more responsive to maternal size. Objective We assessed the role of fetal sex in modifying the effect of maternal macronutrient intake on the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. Design This was a prospective, observational cohort study of 2035 births from an urban South Asian Indian population. Maternal intakes of total energy and macronutrients were recorded by validated food-frequency questionnaires. The interaction of trimester 1 macronutrient intake with fetal sex was tested on the outcome of SGA births. Results The prevalence of SGA was 28%. Trimester 1 macronutrient composition was high in carbohydrate and low in fat (means ± SDs-carbohydrate: 64.6% ± 5.1%; protein: 11.5% ± 1.1%; and fat: 23.9% ± 4.4% of energy). Higher carbohydrate and lower fat consumption were each associated with an increased risk of SGA [adjusted OR (AOR) per 5% of energy (95% CI): carbohydrate: 1.15 (1.01, 1.32); fat: 0.83 (0.71, 0.97)] specifically among male births (males: n = 1047; females: n = 988). Dietary intake of >70% of energy from carbohydrate was also associated with increased risk (AOR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.78), whereas >25% of energy from fat intake was associated with decreased risk (AOR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.90) of SGA in male births. Conclusions Higher carbohydrate and lower fat intakes early in pregnancy were associated with increased risk of male SGA births. Therefore, we speculate that fetal sex acts as a modifier of the role of maternal periconceptional nutrition in optimal fetoplacental growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mukhopadhyay
- Divisions of Nutrition, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India,Address correspondence to AM (e-mail: )
| | - T Thomas
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences
, Bangalore, India
| | - R J Bosch
- Departments of Biostatistics
, Boston, MA
| | - P Dwarkanath
- Divisions of Nutrition, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - A Thomas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St John's Medical College, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences
, Bangalore, India
| | - C P Duggan
- Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
, Boston, MA
| | - A V Kurpad
- Divisions of Nutrition, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
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33
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Dearden L, Bouret SG, Ozanne SE. Sex and gender differences in developmental programming of metabolism. Mol Metab 2018; 15:8-19. [PMID: 29773464 PMCID: PMC6066743 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The early life environment experienced by an individual in utero and during the neonatal period is a major factor in shaping later life disease risk-including susceptibility to develop obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The incidence of metabolic disease is different between males and females. How the early life environment may underlie these sex differences is an area of active investigation. SCOPE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to summarize our current understanding of how the early life environment influences metabolic disease risk in a sex specific manner. We also discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for mediating these sexually dimorphic effects and highlight the results of recent intervention studies in animal models. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Exposure to states of both under- and over-nutrition during early life predisposes both sexes to develop metabolic disease. Females seem particularly susceptible to develop increased adiposity and disrupted glucose homeostasis as a result of exposure to in utero undernutrition or high sugar environments, respectively. The male placenta is particularly vulnerable to damage by adverse nutritional states and this may underlie some of the metabolic phenotypes observed in adulthood. More studies investigating both sexes are needed to understand how changes to the early life environment impact differently on the long-term health of male and female individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dearden
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Level 4, Box 289, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastien G Bouret
- The Saban Research Institute, Developmental Neuroscience Program & Diabetes and Obesity Program, Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA; Inserm, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, U1172, University Lille 2, Lille, 59045, France
| | - Susan E Ozanne
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Level 4, Box 289, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
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Maternal Overnutrition Programs Central Inflammation and Addiction-Like Behavior in Offspring. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:8061389. [PMID: 30027100 PMCID: PMC6031166 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8061389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Obesity or maternal overnutrition during pregnancy and lactation might have long-term consequences in offspring health. Fetal programming is characterized by adaptive responses to specific environmental conditions during early life stages. Programming alters gene expression through epigenetic modifications leading to a transgenerational effect of behavioral phenotypes in the offspring. Maternal intake of hypercaloric diets during fetal development programs aberrant behaviors resembling addiction in offspring. Programming by hypercaloric surplus sets a gene expression pattern modulating axonal pruning, synaptic signaling, and synaptic plasticity in selective regions of the reward system. Likewise, fetal programming can promote an inflammatory phenotype in peripheral and central sites through different cell types such as microglia and T and B cells, which contribute to disrupted energy sensing and behavioral pathways. The molecular mechanism that regulates the central and peripheral immune cross-talk during fetal programming and its relevance on offspring's addictive behavior susceptibility is still unclear. Here, we review the most relevant scientific reports about the impact of hypercaloric nutritional fetal programming on central and peripheral inflammation and its effects on addictive behavior of the offspring.
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Kumar VJ, Grissom NM, McKee SE, Schoch H, Bowman N, Havekes R, Kumar M, Pickup S, Poptani H, Reyes TM, Hawrylycz M, Abel T, Nickl-Jockschat T. Linking spatial gene expression patterns to sex-specific brain structural changes on a mouse model of 16p11.2 hemideletion. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:109. [PMID: 29844452 PMCID: PMC5974415 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0157-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ASD and ADHD, affect males about three to four times more often than females. 16p11.2 hemideletion is a copy number variation that is highly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Previous work from our lab has shown that a mouse model of 16p11.2 hemideletion (del/+) exhibits male-specific behavioral phenotypes. We, therefore, aimed to investigate with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whether del/+ animals also exhibited a sex-specific neuroanatomical endophenotype. Using the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas, we analyzed the expression patterns of the 27 genes within the 16p11.2 region to identify which gene expression patterns spatially overlapped with brain structural changes. MRI was performed ex vivo and the resulting images were analyzed using Voxel-based morphometry for T1-weighted sequences and tract-based spatial statistics for diffusion-weighted images. In a subsequent step, all available in situ hybridization (ISH) maps of the genes involved in the 16p11.2 hemideletion were aligned to Waxholm space and clusters obtained by sex-specific group comparisons were analyzed to determine which gene(s) showed the highest expression in these regions. We found pronounced sex-specific changes in male animals with increased fractional anisotropy in medial fiber tracts, especially in those proximate to the striatum. Moreover, we were able to identify gene expression patterns spatially overlapping with male-specific structural changes that were associated with neurite outgrowth and the MAPK pathway. Of note, previous molecular studies have found convergent changes that point to a sex-specific dysregulation of MAPK signaling. This convergent evidence supports the idea that ISH maps can be used to meaningfully analyze imaging data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Jangir Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance Brain, Juelich/Aachen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Nicola M Grissom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sarah E McKee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hannah Schoch
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicole Bowman
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robbert Havekes
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephen Pickup
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Harish Poptani
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Centre for Preclinical Imaging, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Teresa M Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Thomas Nickl-Jockschat
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance Brain, Juelich/Aachen, Germany.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neurodevelopmental disorders disproportionately affect males. The mechanisms underlying male vulnerability or female protection are not known and remain understudied. Determining the processes involved is crucial to understanding the etiology and advancing treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we review current findings and theories that contribute to male preponderance of neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on autism. RECENT FINDINGS Recent work on the biological basis of the male preponderance of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders includes discussion of a higher genetic burden in females and sex-specific gene mutations or epigenetic changes that differentially confer risk to males or protection to females. Other mechanisms discussed are sex chromosome and sex hormone involvement. Specifically, fetal testosterone is involved in many aspects of development and may interact with neurotransmitter, neuropeptide, or immune pathways to contribute to male vulnerability. Finally, the possibilities of female underdiagnosis and a multi-hit hypothesis are discussed. This review highlights current theories of male bias in developmental disorders. Topics include environmental, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms; theories of sex chromosomes, hormones, neuroendocrine, and immune function; underdiagnosis of females; and a multi-hit hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Ferri
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building, 169 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building, 169 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Edward S. Brodkin
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2202, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403 USA
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Romero R, Erez O, Maymon E, Chaemsaithong P, Xu Z, Pacora P, Chaiworapongsa T, Done B, Hassan SS, Tarca AL. The maternal plasma proteome changes as a function of gestational age in normal pregnancy: a longitudinal study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 217:67.e1-67.e21. [PMID: 28263753 PMCID: PMC5813489 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pregnancy is accompanied by dramatic physiological changes in maternal plasma proteins. Characterization of the maternal plasma proteome in normal pregnancy is an essential step for understanding changes to predict pregnancy outcome. The objective of this study was to describe maternal plasma proteins that change in abundance with advancing gestational age and determine biological processes that are perturbed in normal pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN A longitudinal study included 43 normal pregnancies that had a term delivery of an infant who was appropriate for gestational age without maternal or neonatal complications. For each pregnancy, 3 to 6 maternal plasma samples (median, 5) were profiled to measure the abundance of 1125 proteins using multiplex assays. Linear mixed-effects models with polynomial splines were used to model protein abundance as a function of gestational age, and the significance of the association was inferred via likelihood ratio tests. Proteins considered to be significantly changed were defined as having the following: (1) >1.5-fold change between 8 and 40 weeks of gestation; and (2) a false discovery rate-adjusted value of P < .1. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was used to identify biological processes overrepresented among the proteins that changed with advancing gestation. RESULTS The following results were found: (1) Ten percent (112 of 1125) of the profiled proteins changed in abundance as a function of gestational age; (2) of the 1125 proteins analyzed, glypican-3, sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectin-6, placental growth factor, C-C motif-28, carbonic anhydrase 6, prolactin, interleukin-1 receptor 4, dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase 4, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A had more than a 5-fold change in abundance across gestation (these 9 proteins are known to be involved in a wide range of both physiological and pathological processes, such as growth regulation, embryogenesis, angiogenesis immunoregulation, inflammation etc); and (3) biological processes associated with protein changes in normal pregnancy included defense response, defense response to bacteria, proteolysis, and leukocyte migration (false discovery rate, 10%). CONCLUSION The plasma proteome of normal pregnancy demonstrates dramatic changes in both the magnitude of changes and the fraction of the proteins involved. Such information is important to understand the physiology of pregnancy and the development of biomarkers to differentiate normal vs abnormal pregnancy and determine the response to interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
| | - Offer Erez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Eli Maymon
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
| | - Percy Pacora
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Bogdan Done
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
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A Review of the Impact of Maternal Obesity on the Cognitive Function and Mental Health of the Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18051093. [PMID: 28534818 PMCID: PMC5455002 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18051093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, more than 20% of women of reproductive age are currently estimated to be obese. Children born to obese mothers are at higher risk of developing obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and asthma in adulthood. Increasing clinical and experimental evidence suggests that maternal obesity also affects the health and function of the offspring brain across the lifespan. This review summarizes the current findings from human and animal studies that detail the impact of maternal obesity on aspects of learning, memory, motivation, affective disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and neurodegeneration in the offspring. Epigenetic mechanisms that may contribute to this mother–child interaction are also discussed.
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Edlow AG. Maternal obesity and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in offspring. Prenat Diagn 2016; 37:95-110. [PMID: 27684946 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence from both human epidemiologic and animal studies that prenatal and lactational exposure to maternal obesity and high-fat diet are associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in offspring. These disorders include cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, anxiety and depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. This review synthesizes human and animal data linking maternal obesity and high-fat diet consumption to abnormal fetal brain development and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric morbidity in offspring. In addition, it highlights key mechanisms by which maternal obesity and maternal diet might impact fetal and offspring neurodevelopment, including neuroinflammation; increased oxidative stress, dysregulated insulin, glucose, and leptin signaling; dysregulated serotonergic and dopaminergic signaling; and perturbations in synaptic plasticity. Finally, the review summarizes available evidence regarding investigational therapeutic approaches to mitigate the harmful effects of maternal obesity on fetal and offspring neurodevelopment. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Edlow
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Ob/Gyn, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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