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Prodani C, Irvine EE, Sardini A, Gleneadie HJ, Dimond A, Van de Pette M, John R, Kokkinou M, Howes O, Withers DJ, Ungless MA, Merkenschlager M, Fisher AG. Protein restriction during pregnancy alters Cdkn1c silencing, dopamine circuitry and offspring behaviour without changing expression of key neuronal marker genes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8528. [PMID: 38609446 PMCID: PMC11014953 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59083-7] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We tracked the consequences of in utero protein restriction in mice throughout their development and life course using a luciferase-based allelic reporter of imprinted Cdkn1c. Exposure to gestational low-protein diet (LPD) results in the inappropriate expression of paternally inherited Cdkn1c in the brains of embryonic and juvenile mice. These animals were characterised by a developmental delay in motor skills, and by behavioural alterations indicative of reduced anxiety. Exposure to LPD in utero resulted in significantly more tyrosine hydroxylase positive (dopaminergic) neurons in the midbrain of adult offspring as compared to age-matched, control-diet equivalents. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging revealed an increase in striatal dopamine synthesis capacity in LPD-exposed offspring, where elevated levels of dopamine correlated with an enhanced sensitivity to cocaine. These data highlight a profound sensitivity of the developing epigenome to gestational protein restriction. Our data also suggest that loss of Cdkn1c imprinting and p57KIP2 upregulation alters the cellular composition of the developing midbrain, compromises dopamine circuitry, and thereby provokes behavioural abnormalities in early postnatal life. Molecular analyses showed that despite this phenotype, exposure to LPD solely during pregnancy did not significantly change the expression of key neuronal- or dopamine-associated marker genes in adult offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Prodani
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Elaine E Irvine
- Metabolic Signalling Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alessandro Sardini
- Whole Animal Physiology and Imaging, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Hannah J Gleneadie
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Andrew Dimond
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mathew Van de Pette
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Rosalind John
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Michelle Kokkinou
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Oliver Howes
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Dominic J Withers
- Metabolic Signalling Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mark A Ungless
- MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Matthias Merkenschlager
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Amanda G Fisher
- Epigenetic Memory Group, MRC LMS, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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Kravitz SN, Gregg C. New subtypes of allele-specific epigenetic effects: implications for brain development, function and disease. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 59:69-78. [PMID: 31153086 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Typically, it is assumed that the maternal and paternal alleles for most genes are equally expressed. Known exceptions include canonical imprinted genes, random X-chromosome inactivation, olfactory receptors and clustered protocadherins. Here, we highlight recent studies showing that allele-specific expression is frequent in the genome and involves subtypes of epigenetic allelic effects that differ in terms of heritability, clonality and stability over time. Different forms of epigenetic allele regulation could have different roles in brain development, function, and disease. An emerging area involves understanding allelic effects in a cell-type and developmental stage-specific manner and determining how these effects influence the impact of genetic variants and mutations on the brain. A deeper understanding of epigenetics at the allele and cellular level in the brain could help clarify the mechanisms underlying phenotypic variance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Kravitz
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-3401, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-3401, USA
| | - Christopher Gregg
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-3401, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-3401, USA.
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