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Mendez-Reyes HF, Franco-Olaya M, Canon-Cubillos O, Uribe-Lopez JM, Delgado-Alvarez MC, Velasquez-Portilla M, Olaya-C M. Morphological and clinical findings in placentas and newborns with a history of tobacco, alcohol, and other substance abuse during pregnancy. J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2024; 17:217-224. [PMID: 38640173 DOI: 10.3233/npm-230104] [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: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to toxins during pregnancy is the main modifiable behavior that affects the placenta and, consequently, the fetus. In particular, smoking is a recognized risk factor for negative outcomes. Our study pretended to examine gross and microscopic placental features in women who reported exposure to tobacco, alcohol, or other psychoactive substances. METHODS In this observational case-control study, we collected 706 placentas to assess precise substance exposure histological-interaction features of in the placenta. We examined gross and microscopic placental features, and then recorded maternal and newborn clinical conditions. RESULTS We found that 4.8% of mothers admitted to consumption of some type of (harmful) substance. The most common pre-existing maternal condition was obesity (20.3%); predominant complications included amniotic infection (32.3%), urinary tract infection (14.5%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (14.5%). In newborns, we discovered positive associations as respiratory distress syndrome. Macroscopically, exposed mothers had heavier placentas, more true knots, and single umbilical artery; microscopically, they were more likely to exhibit fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM). CONCLUSIONS Until our present study, no research linked umbilical cord defects to toxic substance exposure; our study results do confirm association with adverse outcomes in neonates and alterations in the neuro-cardio-placental circuit through FVM. IMPLICATIONS The results are confirming the importance of this modifiable risk factor and how its presence may potentially affect the course of pregnancy, as well as the health of both mother and child.
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Affiliation(s)
- H F Mendez-Reyes
- Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - M Franco-Olaya
- Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - O Canon-Cubillos
- Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J M Uribe-Lopez
- Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - M C Delgado-Alvarez
- Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - M Velasquez-Portilla
- Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - M Olaya-C
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
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Watkins SH, Testa C, Simpkin AJ, Smith GD, Coull B, De Vivo I, Tilling K, Waterman PD, Chen JT, Diez-Roux AV, Krieger N, Suderman M, Relton C. An epigenome-wide analysis of DNA methylation, racialized and economic inequities, and air pollution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.07.570610. [PMID: 38105971 PMCID: PMC10723401 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.570610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Importance DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a plausible mechanism by which adverse exposures become embodied and contribute to health inequities, due to its role in genome regulation and responsiveness to social and biophysical exposures tied to societal context. However, scant epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have included structural and lifecourse measures of exposure, especially in relation to structural discrimination. Objective Our study tests the hypothesis that DNAm is a mechanism by which racial discrimination, economic adversity, and air pollution become biologically embodied. Design A series of cross-sectional EWAS, conducted in My Body My Story (MBMS, biological specimens collected 2008-2010, DNAm assayed in 2021); and the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; biological specimens collected 2010-2012, DNAm assayed in 2012-2013); using new georeferenced social exposure data for both studies (generated in 2022). Setting MBMS was recruited from four community health centers in Boston; MESA was recruited from four field sites in: Baltimore, MD; Forsyth County, NC; New York City, NY; and St. Paul, MN. Participants Two population-based samples of US-born Black non-Hispanic (Black NH), white non-Hispanic (white NH), and Hispanic individuals (MBMS; n=224 Black NH and 69 white NH) and (MESA; n=229 Black NH, n=555 white NH and n=191 Hispanic). Exposures Eight social exposures encompassing racial discrimination, economic adversity, and air pollution. Main outcome Genome-wide changes in DNAm, as measured using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip (MBMS; using frozen blood spots) and Illumina 450k BeadChip (MESA; using purified monocytes). Our hypothesis was formulated after data collection. Results We observed the strongest associations with traffic-related air pollution (measured via black carbon and nitrogen oxides exposure), with evidence from both studies suggesting that air pollution exposure may induce epigenetic changes related to inflammatory processes. We also found suggestive associations of DNAm variation with measures of structural racial discrimination (e.g., for Black NH participants, born in a Jim Crow state; adult exposure to racialized economic residential segregation) situated in genes with plausible links to effects on health. Conclusions and Relevance Overall, this work suggests that DNAm is a biological mechanism through which structural racism and air pollution become embodied and may lead to health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Holmes Watkins
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Christian Testa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew J. Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - George Davey Smith
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Brent Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kate Tilling
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Pamela D. Waterman
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jarvis T. Chen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ana V. Diez-Roux
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Nancy Krieger
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew Suderman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline Relton
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Xiao J, Jain A, Bellia G, Nyhan K, Liew Z. A scoping review of multigenerational impacts of grandparental exposures on mental health in grandchildren. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:369-382. [PMID: 38008881 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00413-8] [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] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The multigenerational effects of grandparental exposures on their grandchildren's mental health and neurodevelopment are gaining research attention. We conducted a scoping review to summarize the current epidemiological studies investigating pregnancy-related and environmental factors that affected grandparental pregnancies and mental health outcomes in their grandchildren. We also identified methodological challenges that affect these multigenerational health studies and discuss opportunities for future research. RECENT FINDINGS We performed a literature search using PubMed and Embase and included 18 articles for this review. The most investigated grandparental pregnancy-related factors were the grandparental age of pregnancy (N = 6), smoking during pregnancy (N = 4), and medication intake (N = 3). The most frequently examined grandchild outcomes were autism spectrum disorder (N = 6) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (N = 4). Among these studies, grandparental smoking and the use of diethylstilbestrol were more consistently reported to be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, while the findings for grandparental age vary across the maternal or paternal line. Grandmaternal weight, adverse delivery outcomes, and other spatial-temporal markers of physical and social environmental stressors require further scrutiny. The current body of literature has suggested that mental and neurodevelopmental disorders may be outcomes of unfavorable exposures originating from the grandparental generation during their pregnancies. To advance the field, we recommend research efforts into setting up multigenerational studies with prospectively collected data that span through at least three generations, incorporating spatial, environmental, and biological markers for exposure assessment, expanding the outcome phenotypes evaluated, and developing a causal analytical framework including mediation analyses specific for multigenerational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Xiao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Anushka Jain
- Department of Social Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Giselle Bellia
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Kate Nyhan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
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Duncan GE, Avery A, Maamar MB, Nilsson EE, Beck D, Skinner MK. Epigenome-wide association study of systemic effects of obesity susceptibility in human twins. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2268834. [PMID: 37871278 PMCID: PMC10595392 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2268834] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study was designed to use an epigenome-wide association approach (EWAS) to identify potential systemic DNA methylation alterations that are associated with obesity using 22 discordant twin pairs. Buccal cells (from a cheek swab) were used as a non-obesity relevant purified marker cell for the epigenetic analysis. Analysis of differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) was used to identify epigenetic associations with metabolic and dietary measures related to obesity with discordant twins. An edgeR analysis provided a DMR signature with p < 1e-04, but statistical significance was reduced due to low sample size and known multiple origins of obesity. A weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed and identified modules (p < 0.005) of epigenetic sites that correlated with different metabolic and dietary measures. The DMR and WGCNA epigenetic sites were near genes (e.g., CIDEC, SPP1, ZFPG9, and POMC) with previously identified obesity associated pathways (e.g., metabolism, cholesterol, and fat digestion). Observations demonstrate the feasibility of identifying systemic epigenetic biomarkers for obesity, which can be further investigated for clinical relevance in future research with larger sample sizes. The availability of a systemic epigenetic biomarker for obesity susceptibility may facilitate preventative medicine and clinical management of the disease early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen E. Duncan
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Ally Avery
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Millissia Ben Maamar
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Eric E. Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Michael K. Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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5
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Golding J, Tunstall H, Gregory S, Granell R, Dodd JW, Iles-Caven Y, Watkins S, Suderman M. A history of asthma may be associated with grandparents' exposures to stress and cigarette smoking. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1253442. [PMID: 37808180 PMCID: PMC10556739 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1253442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Within human epidemiological studies, associations have been demonstrated between grandparental exposures during childhood and grandchildren's outcomes. A few studies have assessed whether asthma has ancestral associations with exposure to cigarette smoking, but results have been mixed so far. Material and methods: In this study we used four generations: (F0 great-grandparents, F1 grandparents, F2 parents, F3 study children) of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to determine whether there is evidence of associations between asthma in generations F2 or F3 and exposures to severe trauma in childhood and/or active cigarette smoking during the adolescence of grandmothers and grandfathers in generations F0 and F1 respectively, or of a history of a F0 or F1 grandmother smoking during pregnancy. Results: We have shown that: a) stress exemplified by the death of a F1 grandparent's parent during the grandparents' childhood was associated with increased risk of asthma in generation F3, especially if the grandparent involved was the paternal grandmother; b) if the grandparents of generations F0 or F1 smoked during adolescence (i.e. < 17 years), their grandchildren in generations F2 and F3 were more likely to have a history of asthma; c) paternal F1 grandmother's smoking in pregnancy was associated with her F3 grandchild's asthma at age 7; d) There were differences between the results for the grandsons and granddaughters of the paternal grandmother with exposure to smoking in adolescence and with smoking in pregnancy. e) The addition of all of the individual exposure variables to the different analyses often provided a considerable increase in goodness of fit compared with only adding demographic factors associated with asthma at P < 0.10 such as social class; this was particularly true when all four exposure variables were combined in one model, suggesting possible synergistic effects between them. Discussion: We have shown associations between all four types of exposure to the grandparents to be associated with asthma in the grandchildren, such that the results both depended on whether the male or female line was involved, and the sex of the grandchildren. It was notable that the paternal grandmother was particularly involved in many of the associations. We emphasize that these are exploratory analyses, that asthma diagnostic criteria likely changed over time and may not be consistent between generations, and that the results should be tested in other cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Holly Tunstall
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Gregory
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Raquel Granell
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - James W. Dodd
- Academic Respiratory Unit, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Watkins
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Suderman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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6
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Kitaba NT, Knudsen GTM, Johannessen A, Rezwan FI, Malinovschi A, Oudin A, Benediktsdottir B, Martino D, González FJC, Gómez LP, Holm M, Jõgi NO, Dharmage SC, Skulstad SM, Watkins SH, Suderman M, Gómez-Real F, Schlünssen V, Svanes C, Holloway JW. Fathers' preconception smoking and offspring DNA methylation. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:131. [PMID: 37649101 PMCID: PMC10469907 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01540-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental studies suggest that exposures may impact respiratory health across generations via epigenetic changes transmitted specifically through male germ cells. Studies in humans are, however, limited. We aim to identify epigenetic marks in offspring associated with father's preconception smoking. METHODS We conducted epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) in the RHINESSA cohort (7-50 years) on father's any preconception smoking (n = 875 offspring) and father's pubertal onset smoking < 15 years (n = 304), using Infinium MethylationEPIC Beadchip arrays, adjusting for offspring age, own smoking and maternal smoking. EWAS of maternal and offspring personal smoking were performed for comparison. Father's smoking-associated dmCpGs were checked in subpopulations of offspring who reported no personal smoking and no maternal smoking exposure. RESULTS Father's smoking commencing preconception was associated with methylation of blood DNA in offspring at two cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites (CpGs) (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05) in PRR5 and CENPP. Father's pubertal onset smoking was associated with 19 CpGs (FDR < 0.05) mapped to 14 genes (TLR9, DNTT, FAM53B, NCAPG2, PSTPIP2, MBIP, C2orf39, NTRK2, DNAJC14, CDO1, PRAP1, TPCN1, IRS1 and CSF1R). These differentially methylated sites were hypermethylated and associated with promoter regions capable of gene silencing. Some of these sites were associated with offspring outcomes in this cohort including ever-asthma (NTRK2), ever-wheezing (DNAJC14, TPCN1), weight (FAM53B, NTRK2) and BMI (FAM53B, NTRK2) (p < 0.05). Pathway analysis showed enrichment for gene ontology pathways including regulation of gene expression, inflammation and innate immune responses. Father's smoking-associated sites did not overlap with dmCpGs identified in EWAS of personal and maternal smoking (FDR < 0.05), and all sites remained significant (p < 0.05) in analyses of offspring with no personal smoking and no maternal smoking exposure. CONCLUSION Father's preconception smoking, particularly in puberty, is associated with offspring DNA methylation, providing evidence that epigenetic mechanisms may underlie epidemiological observations that pubertal paternal smoking increases risk of offspring asthma, low lung function and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negusse Tadesse Kitaba
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Gerd Toril Mørkve Knudsen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ane Johannessen
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Faisal I Rezwan
- Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Andrei Malinovschi
- Department of Medical Sciences: Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Oudin
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Bryndis Benediktsdottir
- Department of Allergy, Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - David Martino
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | | | - Mathias Holm
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nils Oskar Jõgi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Shyamali C Dharmage
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Svein Magne Skulstad
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sarah H Watkins
- University of Bristol, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Matthew Suderman
- University of Bristol, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Francisco Gómez-Real
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Work, Environment and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Denmark, Aarhus, Denmark
- National Research Center for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Svanes
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - John W Holloway
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Center, University Hospitals Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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Gregory S, Suderman M, Northstone K, Pembrey M, Watkins S, Iles-Caven Y, Golding J. Regular smoking of male ancestors in adolescence and fat mass in young adult grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wellcome Open Res 2023; 7:184. [PMID: 36320451 PMCID: PMC9597126 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17950.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) have shown that if men commenced smoking prior to the onset of puberty their sons, their granddaughters and great-granddaughters were more likely to have excess fat (but not lean) mass during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. In this study we assess associations between ancestral smoking during adolescence (ages 11-16 years) with fat and lean mass of subsequent generations at two ages. Methods: We analysed data on exposures of grandparents and great-grandparents collected by ALSPAC. The outcomes were the fat masses of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren measured at ages 17 and 24. Measures of lean mass were used as controls. Adjustment was made for 8-10 demographic factors using multiple regression. Results: We found associations between adolescent smoking of the paternal grandfathers and the adjusted fat mass of their grandchildren, but no associations with the grandchildren's lean mass. Grandchildren at age 17 had an average excess fat mass of +1.65 [95% CI +0.04, +3.26] Kg, and at age 24 an average excess of +1.55 [95% CI -0.27, +3.38] Kg. Adolescent smoking by the maternal grandfather showed similar, but weaker, associations: at 17 an average excess fat mass of +1.02 Kg [95% CI -0.20, +2.25] Kg, and at 24 an average excess of +1.28 [95% CI -0.11, +2.66] Kg. There were no pronounced differences between the sexes of the children. For the great-grandparents there were few convincing results, although numbers were small. Conclusions: We have shown associations between grandfathers' smoking in adolescence and increased fat (but not lean) mass in their children. Confirmation of these associations is required, either in a further data set or by demonstrating the presence of supportive biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Gregory
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Matthew Suderman
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Kate Northstone
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Marcus Pembrey
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Sarah Watkins
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Jean Golding
- Bristol Medical School (Population Health Sciences), University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
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8
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Golding J, Gregory S, Northstone K, Pembrey M, Ellis G, Watkins S, Iles-Caven Y, Suderman M. Possible transgenerational associations between grandparents’ childhood exposures and religious belief in their granddaughters: a longitudinal cohort study. Wellcome Open Res 2023. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18049.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Research in non-genetic inheritance indicates that grandparents’ smoking habits and their childhood experiences of trauma can influence the physical and psychological attributes of their grandchildren. This was particularly apparent for outcomes such as autism and obesity where the population prevalence changed over time. Other factors which have changed temporally include religious and spiritual beliefs (RSBs) which have been declining in Western populations. Methods: We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to explore whether grandparental exposures were associated with the religious and/or spiritual beliefs of their grandchildren as measured with a positive response to the question “Do you believe in God or some divine power?” . In line with other inter/trans-generational human studies we hypothesised that: (H1) grandparents’ childhood exposures to cigarette smoking (whether in utero or by active smoking) and/or exposure to traumatic events during childhood will be associated with their grandchild’s RSB; (H2) associations will differ between maternal and paternal lines of inheritance; (H3) relationships will vary with age at grandparental exposure, and (H4) associations will differ between grandsons and granddaughters. Results: We found significant associations between the grandchild’s RSB and both the grandparents’ smoking and their childhood trauma histories (H1 supported). These associations were mainly found down the maternal line (H2 possibly supported) and results varied with age of exposure of the grandparents; being strongest for in utero exposure of cigarette smoke and for pre-puberty exposure of traumatic events (H3 supported), and that granddaughters were more affected than grandsons (H4 supported). Conclusions: We hope that these results will motivate collection of similar data to further evaluate these questions in other populations, including a possible role for biological mechanisms.
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McNeill A. The utility of population level genomic research. Eur J Hum Genet 2022; 30:1307-1308. [PMID: 36450941 PMCID: PMC9712669 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01228-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alisdair McNeill
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- Sheffield Clinical Genetics Department, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
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10
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Wheatley LM, Holloway JW, Svanes C, Sears MR, Breton C, Fedulov AV, Nilsson E, Vercelli D, Zhang H, Togias A, Arshad SH. The role of epigenetics in multi-generational transmission of asthma: An NIAID workshop report-based narrative review. Clin Exp Allergy 2022; 52:1264-1275. [PMID: 36073598 PMCID: PMC9613603 DOI: 10.1111/cea.14223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
There is mounting evidence that environmental exposures can result in effects on health that can be transmitted across generations, without the need for a direct exposure to the original factor, for example, the effect of grandparental smoking on grandchildren. Hence, an individual's health should be investigated with the knowledge of cross-generational influences. Epigenetic factors are molecular factors or processes that regulate genome activity and may impact cross-generational effects. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance has been demonstrated in plants and animals, but the presence and extent of this process in humans are currently being investigated. Experimental data in animals support transmission of asthma risk across generations from a single exposure to the deleterious factor and suggest that the nature of this transmission is in part due to changes in DNA methylation, the most studied epigenetic process. The association of father's prepuberty exposure with offspring risk of asthma and lung function deficit may also be mediated by epigenetic processes. Multi-generational birth cohorts are ideal to investigate the presence and impact of transfer of disease susceptibility across generations and underlying mechanisms. However, multi-generational studies require recruitment and assessment of participants over several decades. Investigation of adult multi-generation cohorts is less resource intensive but run the risk of recall bias. Statistical analysis is challenging given varying degrees of longitudinal and hierarchical data but path analyses, structural equation modelling and multilevel modelling can be employed, and directed networks addressing longitudinal effects deserve exploration as an effort to study causal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Wheatley
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseaseNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - John W. Holloway
- Faculty of Medicine, Human Development and HealthUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Cecilie Svanes
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | | | - Carrie Breton
- University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alexey V. Fedulov
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island HospitalProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Eric Nilsson
- Washington State University PullmanPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Hongmei Zhang
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, School of Public HealthUniversity of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Alkis Togias
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseaseNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Syed Hasan Arshad
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- The David Hide Asthma and Allergy CentreSt Mary's HospitalNewportUK
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Golding J, Gregory S, Northstone K, Pembrey M, Ellis G, Watkins S, Iles-Caven Y, Suderman M. Possible transgenerational associations between grandparents’ childhood exposures and religious belief in their granddaughters: a longitudinal cohort study. Wellcome Open Res 2022. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18049.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Research in non-genetic inheritance indicates that grandparents’ smoking habits and their childhood experiences of trauma can influence the physical and psychological attributes of their grandchildren. This was particularly apparent for outcomes such as autism and obesity where the population prevalence changed over time. Other factors which have changed temporally include religious and spiritual beliefs (RSBs) which have been declining in Western populations. Methods: We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to explore whether grandparental exposures were associated with the religious and/or spiritual beliefs of their grandchildren. In line with other inter/trans-generational human studies we predicted that: (P1) grandparents’ childhood exposures to cigarette smoking (whether in utero or by active smoking) and/or exposure to traumatic events during childhood will be associated with their grandchild’s RSB; (P2) associations will differ between maternal and paternal lines of inheritance; (P3) relationships will vary with age at grandparental exposure, and (P4) associations will differ between grandsons and granddaughters. Results: We found significant associations between the grandchild’s RSB and both the grandparents’ smoking and their childhood trauma histories (P1 supported). These associations were mainly found down the maternal line (P2 possibly supported) and results varied with age of exposure of the grandparents; being strongest for in utero exposure of cigarette smoke and for pre-puberty exposure of traumatic events (P3 supported), and that granddaughters were more affected than grandsons (P4 supported). Conclusions: We hope that these results will motivate collection of similar data to further evaluate these questions in other populations, including a possible role for biological mechanisms.
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