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El Omri-Charai R, Rwigemera A, Gilbert I, Langford A, Robert C, Sloboda DM, McGraw S, Delbes G. Erasure of DNA methylation in rat fetal germ cells is sex-specific and sensitive to maternal high-fat diet. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2024; 15:e19. [PMID: 39324180 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174424000230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
In mammals, DNA methylation (DNAme) erasure and reinstatement during embryo development and germline establishment are sensitive to the intrauterine environment. Maternal intake of a high-fat diet (HFD), associated with excessive gestational weight gain, has transgenerational effects on offspring health, which may be mediated by changes in DNAme in the germline. Here, we tested the impact of a maternal HFD on embryonic germline DNAme erasure using a rat strain that expresses green fluorescent protein specifically in germ cells. DNAme was analysed by methyl-seq capture in germ cells collected from male and female F1 gonads at gestational day 16. Our data show that although HFD induced global hypomethylation in both sexes, DNAme erasure in female germ cells was more advanced compared to male germ cells. The delay in DNAme erasure in males and the greater impact of HFD suggest that male germ cells are more vulnerable to alterations by exogenous factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- R El Omri-Charai
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - A Rwigemera
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - I Gilbert
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - A Langford
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - C Robert
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - D M Sloboda
- Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - S McGraw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche Azrieli du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - G Delbes
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Laval, QC, Canada
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Crafa A, Cannarella R, Calogero AE, Gunes S, Agarwal A. Behind the Genetics: The Role of Epigenetics in Infertility-Related Testicular Dysfunction. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:803. [PMID: 39063558 PMCID: PMC11277947 DOI: 10.3390/life14070803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, we have witnessed a progressive decline in male fertility. This is partly related to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., obesity and diabetes mellitus) and risky lifestyle behaviors. These conditions alter male fertility through various non-genetic mechanisms. However, there is increasing evidence that they are also capable of causing sperm epigenetic alterations, which, in turn, can cause infertility. Furthermore, these modifications could be transmitted to offspring, altering their general and reproductive health. Therefore, these epigenetic modifications could represent one of the causes of the progressive decline in sperm count recorded in recent decades. This review focuses on highlighting epigenetic modifications at the sperm level induced by non-genetic causes of infertility. In detail, the effects on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the expression profiles of non-coding RNAs are evaluated. Finally, a focus on the risk of transgenerational inheritance is presented. Our narrative review aims to demonstrate how certain conditions can alter gene expression, potentially leading to the transmission of anomalies to future generations. It emphasizes the importance of the early detection and treatment of reversible conditions (such as obesity and varicocele) and the modification of risky lifestyle behaviors. Addressing these issues is crucial for individual health, in preserving fertility, and in ensuring the well-being of future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Crafa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.C.); (R.C.); (A.E.C.)
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH 44022, USA
| | - Rossella Cannarella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.C.); (R.C.); (A.E.C.)
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH 44022, USA
- Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Aldo E. Calogero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.C.); (R.C.); (A.E.C.)
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH 44022, USA
| | - Sezgin Gunes
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH 44022, USA
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55280 Samsun, Türkiye
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH 44022, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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Sandoval-Salazar C, Jiménez-García SN, Beltrán-Campos V, Vera-Becerra LE, Núñez-Colín CA. Effect of berrycactus fruit ( Myrtillocactus geometrizans) on glutamate, glutamine, and GABA levels in the frontal cortex of rats fed with a high-fat diet. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220529. [PMID: 36742451 PMCID: PMC9883687 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to the known metabolic alterations, obesity has consequences at the brain level, driving imbalance in neurotransmitters such as glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The consumption of fruits with antioxidant properties, such as the berrycactus Myrtillocactus geometrizans, could have beneficial effects in such an imbalance. The study objective was to evaluate frontal cortex neurotransmitter levels and weight changes in rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and MG. To achieve that, five groups of Wistar rats received different diets for 24 weeks: standard diet (SDt), HFD, HFD + MG extract 150 mg (HMg150), HFD + MG extract 300 mg (HMg300), and HFD + MG extract 450 mg (HMg450); rats received MG extract for the last 4 weeks. Weight and food intake were recorded every week, and also neurotransmitter levels were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Groups fed with HFDs had increased Glu and Gln levels, decreased GABA, and also gained more weight compared to the SDt group; MG extract of 450 mg decreased Glu levels. Concentrations of 300 and 450 mg of MG extract decreased weight compared to the HFD and HMg150 groups. This study reports that HFDs have an impact on neurotransmitter levels and weight, MG extract showed a reduction in Glu concentration and weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuauhtémoc Sandoval-Salazar
- Division of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, Celaya 38060, México
| | - Sandra Neli Jiménez-García
- Division of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, Celaya 38060, México
| | - Vicente Beltrán-Campos
- Division of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, Celaya 38060, México
| | | | - Carlos Alberto Núñez-Colín
- Division of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, Celaya 38060, México
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High-fat diet induced obesity alters Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a levels and global DNA methylation in mouse ovary and testis. Histochem Cell Biol 2023; 159:339-352. [PMID: 36624173 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-022-02173-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Obesity impairs reproductive capacity, and the link between imprinting disorders and obesity has been discussed in many studies. Recent studies indicate that a high-fat diet may cause epigenetic changes in maternal and paternal genes, which may be transmitted to offspring and negatively affect their development. On this basis, our study aims to reveal the changes in DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase enzymes in the ovaries and testes of C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet and created a model of obesity, by comparing them with the control group. For this purpose, we demonstrated the presence and quantitative differences of DNA methyltransferase 1 and DNA methyltransferase 3a enzymes as well as global DNA methylation in ovaries and testis of C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet by using immunohistochemistry and western blot methods. We found that a high-fat diet induces the levels of Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a proteins (p < 0.05). We observed increased global DNA methylation in testes but, interestingly, decreased global DNA methylation in ovaries. We think that our outcomes have significant value to demonstrate the effects of obesity on ovarian follicle development and testicular spermatogenesis and may bring a new perspective to obesity-induced infertility treatments. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to document dynamic alteration of Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a as well as global DNA methylation patterns during follicle development in healthy mouse ovaries.
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Cechinel LR, Batabyal RA, Freishtat RJ, Zohn IE. Parental obesity-induced changes in developmental programming. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:918080. [PMID: 36274855 PMCID: PMC9585252 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.918080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies support the link between parental obesity and the predisposition to develop adult-onset metabolic syndromes that include obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes in the offspring. As the prevalence of obesity increases in persons of childbearing age, so does metabolic syndrome in their descendants. Understanding how parental obesity alters metabolic programs in the progeny, predisposing them to adult-onset metabolic syndrome, is key to breaking this cycle. This review explores the basis for altered metabolism of offspring exposed to overnutrition by focusing on critical developmental processes influenced by parental obesity. We draw from human and animal model studies, highlighting the adaptations in metabolism that occur during normal pregnancy that become maladaptive with obesity. We describe essential phases of development impacted by parental obesity that contribute to long-term alterations in metabolism in the offspring. These encompass gamete formation, placentation, adipogenesis, pancreas development, and development of brain appetite control circuits. Parental obesity alters the developmental programming of these organs in part by inducing epigenetic changes with long-term consequences on metabolism. While exposure to parental obesity during any of these phases is sufficient to alter long-term metabolism, offspring often experience multiple exposures throughout their development. These insults accumulate to increase further the susceptibility of the offspring to the obesogenic environments of modern society.
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Denizli M, Capitano ML, Kua KL. Maternal obesity and the impact of associated early-life inflammation on long-term health of offspring. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:940937. [PMID: 36189369 PMCID: PMC9523142 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.940937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity is increasingly common in the United States, with ~25% of women of reproductive age being overweight or obese. Metaflammation, a chronic low grade inflammatory state caused by altered metabolism, is often present in pregnancies complicated by obesity. As a result, the fetuses of mothers who are obese are exposed to an in-utero environment that has altered nutrients and cytokines. Notably, both human and preclinical studies have shown that children born to mothers with obesity have higher risks of developing chronic illnesses affecting various organ systems. In this review, the authors sought to present the role of cytokines and inflammation during healthy pregnancy and determine how maternal obesity changes the inflammatory landscape of the mother, leading to fetal reprogramming. Next, the negative long-term impact on offspring’s health in numerous disease contexts, including offspring’s risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders (autism, attention deficit and hyperactive disorder), metabolic diseases (obesity, type 2 diabetes), atopy, and malignancies will be discussed along with the potential of altered immune/inflammatory status in offspring as a contributor of these diseases. Finally, the authors will list critical knowledge gaps in the field of developmental programming of health and diseases in the context of offspring of mothers with obesity, particularly the understudied role of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Denizli
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN, United States
| | - Maegan L. Capitano
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN, United States
| | - Kok Lim Kua
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN, United States
- *Correspondence: Kok Lim Kua,
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