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Terracina S, Ferraguti G, Tarani L, Messina MP, Lucarelli M, Vitali M, De Persis S, Greco A, Minni A, Polimeni A, Ceccanti M, Petrella C, Fiore M. Transgenerational Abnormalities Induced by Paternal Preconceptual Alcohol Drinking: Findings from Humans and Animal Models. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1158-1173. [PMID: 34720083 PMCID: PMC9886817 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666211101111430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation is a widespread preventable cause of neurodevelopmental impairment in newborns. While the harmful effects of gestational alcohol use have been well documented, only recently, the role of paternal preconceptual alcohol consumption (PPAC) prior to copulating has drawn specific epigenetic considerations. Data from human and animal models have demonstrated that PPAC may affect sperm function, eliciting oxidative stress. In newborns, PPAC may induce changes in behavior, cognitive functions, and emotional responses. Furthermore, PPAC may elicit neurobiological disruptions, visuospatial impairments, hyperactivity disorders, motor skill disruptions, hearing loss, endocrine, and immune alterations, reduced physical growth, placental disruptions, and metabolic alterations. Neurobiological studies on PPAC have also disclosed changes in brain function and structure by disrupting the growth factors pathways. In particular, as shown in animal model studies, PPAC alters brain nerve growth factor (NGF) and brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis and release. This review shows that the crucial topic of lifelong disabilities induced by PPAC and/or gestational alcohol drinking is quite challenging at the individual, societal, and familial levels. Since a nontoxic drinking behavior before pregnancy (for both men and women), during pregnancy, and lactation cannot be established, the only suggestion for couples planning pregnancies is to completely avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Terracina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Medical Faculty, Sapienza University of Rome, RomeItaly
| | - Giampiero Ferraguti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Medical Faculty, Sapienza University of Rome, RomeItaly
| | - Luigi Tarani
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marco Lucarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Medical Faculty, Sapienza University of Rome, RomeItaly
| | | | | | - Antonio Greco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Minni
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Polimeni
- Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Ceccanti
- SITAC, Società Italiana per il Trattamento dell’Alcolismo e le sue Complicanze, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Petrella
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Fiore
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy,Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy; E-mail:
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Ceci FM, Ferraguti G, Petrella C, Greco A, Ralli M, Iannitelli A, Carito V, Tirassa P, Chaldakov GN, Messina MP, Ceccanti M, Fiore M. Nerve Growth Factor in Alcohol Use Disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 19:45-60. [PMID: 32348226 PMCID: PMC7903493 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200429003239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs to the family of neurotrophic factors. Initially discovered as a signaling molecule involved in the survival, protection, differentiation, and proliferation of sympathetic and peripheral sensory neurons, it also participates in the regulation of the immune system and endocrine system. NGF biological activity is due to the binding of two classes of receptors: the tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and the low-affinity NGF pan-neurotrophin receptor p75. Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) are one of the most frequent mental disorders in developed countries, characterized by heavy drinking, despite the negative effects of alcohol on brain development and cognitive functions that cause individual’s work, medical, legal, educational, and social life problems. In addition, alcohol consumption during pregnancy disrupts the development of the fetal brain causing a wide range of neurobehavioral outcomes collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The rationale of this review is to describe crucial findings on the role of NGF in humans and animals, when exposed to prenatal, chronic alcohol consumption, and on binge drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Maria Ceci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero Ferraguti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Petrella
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Section of Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ralli
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Iannitelli
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Valentina Carito
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Section of Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Tirassa
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Section of Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - George N Chaldakov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
| | | | - Mauro Ceccanti
- Centro Riferimento Alcologico Regione Lazio, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Fiore
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Section of Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
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Carito V, Ceccanti M, Ferraguti G, Coccurello R, Ciafrè S, Tirassa P, Fiore M. NGF and BDNF Alterations by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:308-317. [PMID: 28847297 PMCID: PMC6482479 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170825101308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is now widely established that the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the embryo and fetus development cause marked cognitive and neurobiological deficits in the newborns. The negative effects of the gestational alcohol use have been well documented and known for some time. However, also the subtle role of alcohol consumption by fathers prior to mating is drawing special attention. OBJECTIVE Both paternal and maternal alcohol exposure has been shown to affect the neurotrophins' signalling pathways in the brain and in target organs of ethanol intoxication. Neurotrophins, in particular nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are molecules playing a pivotal role in the survival, development and function of the peripheral and central nervous systems but also in the pathogenesis of developmental defects caused by alcohol exposure. METHODS New researches from the available literature and experimental data from our laboratory are presented in this review to offer the most recent findings regarding the effects of maternal and paternal prenatal ethanol exposure especially on the neurotrophins' signalling pathways. RESULTS NGF and BDNF changes play a subtle role in short- and long-lasting effects of alcohol in ethanol target tissues, including neuronal cell death and severe cognitive and physiological deficits in the newborns. CONCLUSION The review suggests a possible therapeutic intervention based on the use of specific molecules with antioxidant properties in order to induce a potential prevention of the harmful effects of the paternal and/or maternal alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marco Fiore
- Address correspondence to this author at the Istituto di Biologia Cellulare e Neurobiologia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Roma, Italy; Tel: +3906501703239;, Fax: +3906501703313; E-mail:
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Ciafrè S, Carito V, Ferraguti G, Greco A, Chaldakov GN, Fiore M, Ceccanti M. How alcohol drinking affects our genes: an epigenetic point of view. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 97:345-356. [PMID: 30412425 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This work highlights recent studies in epigenetic mechanisms that play a role in alcoholism, which is a complex multifactorial disorder. There is a large body of evidence showing that alcohol can modify gene expression through epigenetic processes, namely DNA methylation and nucleosomal remodeling via histone modifications. In that regard, chronic exposure to ethanol modifies DNA and histone methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNA expression. The alcohol-mediated chromatin remodeling in the brain promotes the transition from use to abuse and addiction. Unravelling the multiplex pattern of molecular modifications induced by ethanol could support the development of new therapies for alcoholism and drug addiction targeting epigenetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Ciafrè
- a Institute of Translational Pharmacology, IFT-CNR, 100 via del Fosso del Cavaliere, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Valentina Carito
- b Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, IBCN-CNR, c/o Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero Ferraguti
- c Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- d Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - George N Chaldakov
- e Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University, BG-9002 Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Marco Fiore
- b Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, IBCN-CNR, c/o Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Ceccanti
- f Centro Riferimento Alcologico Regione Lazio, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
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