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Ahkin Chin Tai JK, Horzmann KA, Jenkins TL, Akoro IN, Stradtman S, Aryal UK, Freeman JL. Adverse developmental impacts in progeny of zebrafish exposed to the agricultural herbicide atrazine during embryogenesis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108213. [PMID: 37774458 PMCID: PMC10613503 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Atrazine (ATZ) is an herbicide commonly used on crops in the Midwestern US and other select global regions. The US Environmental Protection Agency ATZ regulatory limit is 3 parts per billion (ppb; µg/L), but this limit is often exceeded. ATZ has a long half-life, is a common contaminant of drinking water sources, and is indicated as an endocrine disrupting chemical in multiple species. The zebrafish was used to test the hypothesis that an embryonic parental ATZ exposure alters protein levels leading to modifications in morphology and behavior in developing progeny. Zebrafish embryos (F1) were collected from adults (F0) exposed to 0, 0.3, 3, or 30 ppb ATZ during embryogenesis. Differential proteomics, morphology, and behavior assays were completed with offspring aged 120 or 144 h with no additional chemical treatment. Proteomic analysis identified differential expression of proteins associated with neurological development and disease; and organ and organismal morphology, development, and injury, specifically the skeletomuscular system. Head length and ratio of head length to total length was significantly increased in the F1 of 0.3 and 30 ppb ATZ groups (p < 0.05). Based on molecular pathway alterations, further craniofacial morphology assessment found decreased distance for cartilaginous structures, decreased surface area and distance between saccular otoliths, and a more posteriorly positioned notochord (p < 0.05), indicating delayed ossification and skeletal growth. The visual motor response assay showed hyperactivity in progeny of the 30 ppb treatment group for distance moved and of the 0.3 and 30 ppb treatment groups for time spent moving (p < 0.05). Due to the changes in saccular otoliths, an acoustic startle assay was completed and showed decreased response in the 0.3 and 30 ppb treatments (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that a single embryonic parental exposure alters cellular pathways in their progeny that lead to perturbations in craniofacial development and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katharine A Horzmann
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Thomas L Jenkins
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Isabelle N Akoro
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sydney Stradtman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Uma K Aryal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Bindley Bioscience Center, Discovery Park, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Mo J, Liu X, Huang Y, He R, Zhang Y, Huang H. Developmental origins of adult diseases. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:450-470. [PMID: 37724166 PMCID: PMC10388800 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence and mechanisms of developmental adult diseases have gradually attracted attention in recent years. Exposure of gametes and embryos to adverse environments, especially during plastic development, can alter the expression of certain tissue-specific genes, leading to increased susceptibility to certain diseases in adulthood, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric, and reproductive system diseases, etc. The occurrence of chronic disease in adulthood is partly due to genetic factors, and the remaining risk is partly due to environmental-dependent epigenetic information alteration, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs. Changes in this epigenetic information potentially damage our health, which has also been supported by numerous epidemiological and animal studies in recent years. Environmental factors functionally affect embryo development through epimutation, transmitting diseases to offspring and even later generations. This review mainly elaborated on the concept of developmental origins of adult diseases, and revealed the epigenetic mechanisms underlying these events, discussed the theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Mo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xuanqi Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yutong Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Renke He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU056), Shanghai, China
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New Wenshen Shengjing Decoction Improves Early Embryonic Development by Maintaining Low Levels of H3K4me3 in Sperm. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:9775473. [PMID: 35237692 PMCID: PMC8885201 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9775473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background New Wenshen Shengjing Decoction (NWSSJD), a traditional Chinese compound medicine, has significant effect on spermatogenesis disorder and can significantly improve sperm quality. Many components in NWSSJD can induce epigenetic modifications of different types of cells. It is not yet known whether they can cause epigenetic modifications in sperm or early embryos. Objective This study investigated the effect of NWSSJD on mouse early embryonic development and its regulation of H3K4me3 in mouse sperm and early embryos. Methods Spermatogenesis disorder was induced in male mice with CPA (cyclophosphamide). NWSSJD was administrated for 30 days. Then, the male mice were mated with the female mice with superovulation, and the embryo degeneration rate of each stage was calculated. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of H3K4me3 in sperm and embryos at various stages. Western blotting was performed to detect methyltransferase SETD1B expression. The expressions of development-related genes (OCT-4, NANOG, and CDX2) and apoptosis-related genes (BCL-2 and p53) were measured with qRT-PCR. Results Compared with the CPA group, NWSSJD significantly reduced the H3K4me3 level in sperms, significantly increased the number of normal early embryos (2-cell embryos, 3-4-cell embryos, 8-16-cell embryos, and blastocysts) per mouse, and reduced the degeneration rate of the embryos. The expression levels of H3K4me3 and methyltransferase SETD1B in early embryos were significantly elevated by NWSSJD. Additionally, NWSSJD significantly promoted BCL-2 expression, while reducing p53 expression, thus inhibiting embryonic cell apoptosis. Moreover, the expressions of development-related genes OCT-4 and CDX2 were significantly increased by NWSSJD, but NANOG expression had no significant difference. Conclusion NWSSJD may promote early embryonic development possibly by maintaining low H3K4me3 levels in sperms and normal H3K4me3 modification in early embryos and by inhibiting embryonic cell apoptosis.
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Zeng L, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Wang X, Wang M, Su P. Differential Expression Profiles and Potential Intergenerational Functions of tRNA-Derived Small RNAs in Mice After Cadmium Exposure. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:791784. [PMID: 35047503 PMCID: PMC8762212 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.791784] [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: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal and ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptor. Previous studies on Cd-induced damage to male fertility mainly focus on the structure and function of testis, including cytoskeleton, blood-testis barrier, and steroidogenesis. Nevertheless, to date, no studies have investigated the effects of Cd exposure on sperm epigenetic inheritance and intergenerational inheritance. In our study, we systematically revealed the changes in sperm tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNA) profiles and found that 14 tsRNAs (9 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated) were significantly altered after Cd exposure. Bioinformatics of tsRNA-mRNA-pathway interactions revealed that the altered biological functions mainly were related to ion transmembrane transport, lipid metabolism and cell membrane system. In addition, we focused on two stages of early embryo development and selected two organs to study the impact of these changes on cell membrane system, especially mitochondrion and lysosome, two typical membrane-enclosed organelles. Surprisingly, we found that the content of mitochondrion was significantly decreased in 2-cell stage, whereas remarkably increased in the morula stage. The contents of mitochondrion and lysosome were increased in the testes of 6-day-old offspring and livers of adult offspring, whereas remarkably decreased in the testes of adult offspring. This provides a possible basis to further explore the effects of paternal Cd exposure on offspring health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zeng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinzhao Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanwei Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mei Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Su
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Hartman C, Legoff L, Capriati M, Lecuyer G, Kernanec PY, Tevosian S, D'Cruz SC, Smagulova F. Epigenetic Effects Promoted by Neonicotinoid Thiacloprid Exposure. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:691060. [PMID: 34295895 PMCID: PMC8290843 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.691060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neonicotinoids, a widely used class of insecticide, have attracted much attention because of their widespread use that has resulted in the decline of the bee population. Accumulating evidence suggests potential animal and human exposure to neonicotinoids, which is a cause of public concern. Objectives In this study, we examined the effects of a neonicotinoid, thiacloprid (thia), on the male reproductive system. Methods The pregnant outbred Swiss female mice were exposed to thia at embryonic days E6.5 to E15.5 using “0,” “0.06,” “0.6,” and “6” mg/kg/day doses. Adult male progeny was analyzed for morphological and cytological defects in the testes using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. We also used immunofluorescence, Western blotting, RT-qPCR and RNA-seq techniques for the analyses of the effects of thia on testis. Results We found that exposure to thia causes a decrease in spermatozoa at doses “0.6” and “6” and leads to telomere defects at all tested doses. At doses “0.6” and “6,” thia exposure leads to an increase in meiotic pachytene cells and a decrease in lumen size, these changes were accompanied by increased testis-to-body weight ratios at high dose. By using RNA-seq approach we found that genes encoding translation, ATP production, ATP-dependent proteins and chromatin-modifying enzymes were deregulated in testes. In addition, we found that exposure to thia results in a decrease in H3K9me3 levels in spermatocytes. The changes in H3K9me3 were associated with a dramatic increase in activity of retroelements. Conclusion Our study suggests that gestational exposure to thia affects epigenetic mechanisms controlling meiosis which could lead to deleterious effects on male spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Hartman
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Louis Legoff
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Martina Capriati
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Gwendoline Lecuyer
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Kernanec
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
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Hao N, Xin H, Shi X, Xin J, Zhang H, Guo S, Wang Z, Hao C. Paternal reprogramming-escape histone H3K4me3 marks located within promoters of RNA splicing genes. Bioinformatics 2021; 37:1039-1044. [PMID: 33119058 PMCID: PMC8150124 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Motivation Exposure of mouse embryos to atrazine decreased histone tri-methylation at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and increased expression of alternatively spliced RNA in the third generation. Specificity protein (SP) family motifs were enriched in the promoters of genes encoding differentially expressed alternative transcripts. Results H3K4me3 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) of mouse sperm, preimplantation embryo development and male gonad primordial germ cells (PGCs) were analysed to identify the paternal reprogramming-escape H3K4me3 regions (RERs). In total, 251 RERs selected harbour H3K4me3 marks in sperm, with signals occurring in the paternal genome during early development and in male gonad PGCs, and 179 genes had RERs within 1 kb of transcription start sites (TSSs). These genes were significantly enriched in the gene ontology term ‘RNA splicing’, and SP1/SP2/SP3 motifs were enriched in RER-associated H3K4me3 peaks. Overall, the H3K4me3 marks within TSSs of RNA splicing genes survived two rounds of the epigenetic reprogramming process. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hao
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China.,School of Mathematics and Statistics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Huawei Xin
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Xiaowei Shi
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Jie Xin
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Haijuan Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Shaofen Guo
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Chunxiang Hao
- College of Pharmacy, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
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Rossetti MF, Canesini G, Lorenz V, Milesi MM, Varayoud J, Ramos JG. Epigenetic Changes Associated With Exposure to Glyphosate-Based Herbicides in Mammals. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:671991. [PMID: 34093442 PMCID: PMC8177816 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.671991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate is a phosphonomethyl amino acid derivative present in a number of non-selective and systemic herbicides. During the last years the use of glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) has been increasing exponentially around the world, including Argentina. This fact added to the detection of glyphosate, and its main metabolite, amino methylphosphonic acid (AMPA), in environmental matrices such as soil, sediments, and food, has generated great concern about its risks for humans, animals, and environment. During the last years, there were controversy and intense debate regarding the toxicological effects of these compounds associated with the endocrine system, cancer, reproduction, and development. The mechanisms of action of GBH and their metabolites are still under investigation, although recent findings have shown that they could comprise epigenetic modifications. These are reversible mechanisms linked to tissue-specific silencing of gene expression, genomic imprinting, and tumor growth. Particularly, glyphosate, GBH, and AMPA have been reported to produce changes in global DNA methylation, methylation of specific genes, histone modification, and differential expression of non-coding RNAs in human cells and rodents. Importantly, the epigenome could be heritable and could lead to disease long after the exposure has ended. This mini-review summarizes the epigenetic changes produced by glyphosate, GBHs, and AMPA in humans and rodents and proposes it as a potential mechanism of action through which these chemical compounds could alter body functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Rossetti
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Guillermina Canesini
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Virginia Lorenz
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Mercedes Milesi
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Jorgelina Varayoud
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Jorge Guillermo Ramos
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Legoff L, D'Cruz SC, Bouchekhchoukha K, Monfort C, Jaulin C, Multigner L, Smagulova F. In utero exposure to chlordecone affects histone modifications and activates LINE-1 in cord blood. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:4/6/e202000944. [PMID: 33837044 PMCID: PMC8091598 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero exposure to chlordecone affects chromatin and leads to activation of retroelements. This study shows the changes induced by chlordecone in human umbilical cord blood and blood-derived cell line. Environmental factors can induce detrimental consequences into adulthood life. In this study, we examined the epigenetic effects induced by in utero chlordecone (CD) exposure on human male cord blood as well as in blood-derived Ke-37 cell line. Genome-wide analysis of histone H3K4me3 distribution revealed that genes related to chromosome segregation, chromatin organization, and cell cycle have altered occupancy in their promoters. The affected regions were enriched in ESR1, SP family, and IKZF1 binding motifs. We also observed a global reduction in H3K9me3, markedly in repeated sequences of the genome. Decrease in H3K9me3 after CD exposure correlates with decreased methylation in LINE-1 promoters and telomere length extension. These observations on human cord blood were assessed in the Ke-37 human cell line. H3K4me3 and the expression of genes related to immune response, DNA repair, and chromatin organization, which were affected in human cord blood were also altered in CD-exposed Ke-37 cells. Our data suggest that developmental exposure to CD leads to profound changes in histone modification patterns and affects the processes controlled by them in human cord blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- University of Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- University of Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Katia Bouchekhchoukha
- University of Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Christine Monfort
- University of Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Christian Jaulin
- Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, Epigenetics and Cancer Group, UMR 6290 CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Luc Multigner
- University of Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- University of Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
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Ren XM, Kuo Y, Blumberg B. Agrochemicals and obesity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 515:110926. [PMID: 32619583 PMCID: PMC7484009 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Obesity has become a very large concern worldwide, reaching pandemic proportions over the past several decades. Lifestyle factors, such as excess caloric intake and decreased physical activity, together with genetic predispositions, are well-known factors related to obesity. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that exposure to some environmental chemicals during critical windows of development may contribute to the rapid increase in the incidence of obesity. Agrochemicals are a class of chemicals extensively used in agriculture, which have been widely detected in human. There is now considerable evidence linking human exposure to agrochemicals with obesity. This review summarizes human epidemiological evidence and experimental animal studies supporting the association between agrochemical exposure and obesity and outlines possible mechanistic underpinnings for this link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Min Ren
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-2300, USA
| | - Yun Kuo
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-2300, USA
| | - Bruce Blumberg
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-2300, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Environmental Impact on Male (In)Fertility via Epigenetic Route. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9082520. [PMID: 32764255 PMCID: PMC7463911 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9082520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 40 years, male reproductive health-which is very sensitive to both environmental exposure and metabolic status-has deteriorated and the poor sperm quality observed has been suggested to affect offspring development and its health in adult life. In this scenario, evidence now suggests that epigenetics shapes endocrine functions, linking genetics and environment. During fertilization, spermatozoa share with the oocyte their epigenome, along with their haploid genome, in order to orchestrate embryo development. The epigenetic signature of spermatozoa is the result of a dynamic modulation of the epigenetic marks occurring, firstly, in the testis-during germ cell progression-then, along the epididymis, where spermatozoa still receive molecules, conveyed by epididymosomes. Paternal lifestyle, including nutrition and exposure to hazardous substances, alters the phenotype of the next generations, through the remodeling of a sperm epigenetic blueprint that dynamically reacts to a wide range of environmental and lifestyle stressors. With that in mind, this review will summarize and discuss insights into germline epigenetic plasticity caused by environmental stimuli and diet and how spermatozoa may be carriers of induced epimutations across generations through a mechanism known as paternal transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
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11
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King SE, Skinner MK. Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Obesity Susceptibility. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2020; 31:478-494. [PMID: 32521235 PMCID: PMC8260009 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity and associated diseases has reached pandemic levels. Obesity is often associated with overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, but clearly other factors also increase the susceptibility of metabolic disease states. Ancestral and direct exposures to environmental toxicants and altered nutrition have been shown to increase susceptibility for obesity and metabolic dysregulation. Environmental insults can reprogram the epigenome of the germline (sperm and eggs), which transmits the susceptibility for disease to future generations through epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. In this review, we discuss current evidence and molecular mechanisms for epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity susceptibility. Understanding ancestral environmental insults and epigenetic transgenerational impacts on future generations will be critical to fully understand the etiology of obesity and to develop preventative therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E King
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA.
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Van Cauwenbergh O, Di Serafino A, Tytgat J, Soubry A. Transgenerational epigenetic effects from male exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds: a systematic review on research in mammals. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:65. [PMID: 32398147 PMCID: PMC7218615 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00845-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing long-term health effects from a potentially harmful environment is challenging. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) have become omnipresent in our environment. Individuals may or may not experience clinical health issues from being exposed to the increasing environmental pollution in daily life, but an issue of high concern is that also the non-exposed progeny may encounter consequences of these ancestral exposures. Progress in understanding epigenetic mechanisms opens new perspectives to estimate the risk of man-made EDCs. However, the field of epigenetic toxicology is new and its application in public health or in the understanding of disease etiology is almost non-existent, especially if it concerns future generations. In this review, we investigate the literature on transgenerational inheritance of diseases, published in the past 10 years. We question whether persistent epigenetic changes occur in the male germ line after exposure to synthesized EDCs. Our systematic search led to an inclusion of 43 articles, exploring the effects of commonly used synthetic EDCs, such as plasticizers (phthalates and bisphenol A), pesticides (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, atrazine, vinclozin, methoxychlor), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, such as benzo(a)pyrene). Most studies found transgenerational epigenetic effects, often linked to puberty- or adult-onset diseases, such as testicular or prostate abnormalities, metabolic disorders, behavioral anomalies, and tumor development. The affected epigenetic mechanisms included changes in DNA methylation patterns, transcriptome, and expression of DNA methyltransferases. Studies involved experiments in animal models and none were based on human data. In the future, human studies are needed to confirm animal findings. If not transgenerational, at least intergenerational human studies and studies on EDC-induced epigenetic effects on germ cells could help to understand early processes of inheritance. Next, toxicity tests of new chemicals need a more comprehensive approach before they are introduced on the market. We further point to the relevance of epigenetic toxicity tests in regard to public health of the current population but also of future generations. Finally, this review sheds a light on how the interplay of genetics and epigenetics may explain the current knowledge gap on transgenerational inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Van Cauwenbergh
- Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alessandra Di Serafino
- Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adelheid Soubry
- Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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13
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Lamb SD, Chia JHZ, Johnson SL. Paternal exposure to a common herbicide alters the behavior and serotonergic system of zebrafish offspring. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228357. [PMID: 32275662 PMCID: PMC7147785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasingly, studies are revealing that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can alter animal behavior. Early life exposure to EDCs may permanently alter phenotypes through to adulthood. In addition, the effects of EDCs may not be isolated to a single generation − offspring may indirectly be impacted, via non-genetic processes. Here, we analyzed the effects of paternal atrazine exposure on behavioral traits (distance moved, exploration, bottom-dwelling time, latency to enter the top zone, and interaction with a mirror) and whole-brain mRNA of genes involved in the serotonergic system regulation (slc6a4a, slc6a4b, htr1Aa, htr1B, htr2B) of zebrafish (Danio rerio). F0 male zebraFIsh were exposed to atrazine at 0.3, 3 or 30 part per billion (ppb) during early juvenile development, the behavior of F1 progeny was tested at adulthood, and the effect of 0.3 ppb atrazine treatment on mRNA transcription was quantified. Paternal exposure to atrazine significantly reduced interactions with a mirror (a proxy for aggression) and altered the latency to enter the top zone of a tank in unexposed F1 offspring. Bottom-dwelling time (a proxy for anxiety) also appeared to be somewhat affected, and activity (distance moved) was reduced in the context of aggression. slc6a4a and htr1Aa mRNA transcript levels were found to correlate positively with anxiety levels in controls, but we found that this relationship was disrupted in the 0.3 ppb atrazine treatment group. Overall, paternal atrazine exposure resulted in alterations across a variety of behavioral traits and showed signs of serotonergic system dysregulation, demonstrating intergenerational effects. Further research is needed to explore transgenerational effects on behavior and possible mechanisms underpinning behavioral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D. Lamb
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (SDL); (SLJ)
| | - Jolyn H. Z. Chia
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Sheri L. Johnson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (SDL); (SLJ)
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14
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Sánchez OF, Lin L, Bryan CJ, Xie J, Freeman JL, Yuan C. Profiling epigenetic changes in human cell line induced by atrazine exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 258:113712. [PMID: 31875570 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
How environmental chemicals can affect and exert their toxic effect at a molecular level has gained significant interest in recent years, not only for understanding their immediate health implications over exposed individuals, but also for their subsequent progeny. Atrazine (ATZ) is a commonly used herbicide in the U.S. and a long-suspected endocrine disrupting chemical. The molecular mechanism conferring long-term adverse health outcomes, however, remain elusive. Here, we explored changes in epigenetic marks that arise after exposure to ATZ at selected doses using image-based analysis coupled with data clustering. Significant decreases in methylated CpG (meCpG) and histone 3 lysine 9 tri-methylated (H3K9me3) were observed in the selected human cell line with a clear spatial preference. Treating cells with ATZ leads to the loss of a subpopulation of cells with high meCpG levels as identified in our clustering and histogram analysis. A similar trend was observed in H3K9me3 potentially attributing to the cross-talking between meCpG and H3K9me3. Changes in meCpG are likely to be associated with alterations in epigenetic enzyme expression levels regulating meCpG and persist after the removal of ATZ source which collectively provide a plausible mechanism for long-term ATZ-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar F Sánchez
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, 110231, Colombia
| | - Li Lin
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chris J Bryan
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Junkai Xie
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chongli Yuan
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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15
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Warner GR, Mourikes VE, Neff AM, Brehm E, Flaws JA. Mechanisms of action of agrochemicals acting as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 502:110680. [PMID: 31838026 PMCID: PMC6942667 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Agrochemicals represent a significant class of endocrine disrupting chemicals that humans and animals around the world are exposed to constantly. Agrochemicals can act as endocrine disrupting chemicals through a variety of mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that several mechanisms of action involve the ability of agrochemicals to mimic the interaction of endogenous hormones with nuclear receptors such as estrogen receptors, androgen receptors, peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and thyroid hormone receptors. Further, studies indicate that agrochemicals can exert toxicity through non-nuclear receptor-mediated mechanisms of action. Such non-genomic mechanisms of action include interference with peptide, steroid, or amino acid hormone response, synthesis and degradation as well as epigenetic changes (DNA methylation and histone modifications). This review summarizes the major mechanisms of action by which agrochemicals target the endocrine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genoa R Warner
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Vasiliki E Mourikes
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Alison M Neff
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Emily Brehm
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States
| | - Jodi A Flaws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, IL, United States.
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16
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Potential Health Risks Linked to Emerging Contaminants in Major Rivers and Treated Waters. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11122615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in our local waterways is becoming an increasing threat to the surrounding population. These compounds and their degradation products (found in pesticides, herbicides, and plastic waste) are known to interfere with a range of biological functions from reproduction to differentiation. To better understand these effects, we used an in silico ontological pathway analysis to identify the genes affected by the most commonly detected EDCs in large river water supplies, which we grouped together based on four common functions: Organismal injuries, cell death, cancer, and behavior. In addition to EDCs, we included the opioid buprenorphine in our study, as this similar ecological threat has become increasingly detected in river water supplies. Through the identification of the pleiotropic biological effects associated with both the acute and chronic exposure to EDCs and opioids in local water supplies, our results highlight a serious health threat worthy of additional investigations with a potential emphasis on the effects linked to increased DNA damage.
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17
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Legoff L, D’Cruz SC, Tevosian S, Primig M, Smagulova F. Transgenerational Inheritance of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Alterations during Mammalian Development. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121559. [PMID: 31816913 PMCID: PMC6953051 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies traditionally focus on DNA as the molecule that passes information on from parents to their offspring. Changes in the DNA code alter heritable information and can more or less severely affect the progeny's phenotype. While the idea that information can be inherited between generations independently of the DNA's nucleotide sequence is not new, the outcome of recent studies provides a mechanistic foundation for the concept. In this review, we attempt to summarize our current knowledge about the transgenerational inheritance of environmentally induced epigenetic changes. We focus primarily on studies using mice but refer to other species to illustrate salient points. Some studies support the notion that there is a somatic component within the phenomenon of epigenetic inheritance. However, here, we will mostly focus on gamete-based processes and the primary molecular mechanisms that are thought to contribute to epigenetic inheritance: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. Most of the rodent studies published in the literature suggest that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through gametes can be modulated by environmental factors. Modification and redistribution of chromatin proteins in gametes is one of the major routes for transmitting epigenetic information from parents to the offspring. Our recent studies provide additional specific cues for this concept and help better understand environmental exposure influences fitness and fidelity in the germline. In summary, environmental cues can induce parental alterations and affect the phenotypes of offspring through gametic epigenetic inheritance. Consequently, epigenetic factors and their heritability should be considered during disease risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Shereen Cynthia D’Cruz
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- University of Florida, Department of Physiological Sciences Box 100144, 1333 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Michael Primig
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence:
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Saalfeld GQ, Varela Junior AS, Castro T, Pires DM, Pereira JR, Pereira FA, Corcini CD, Colares EP. Atrazine exposure in gestation and breastfeeding affects Calomys laucha sperm cells. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:34953-34963. [PMID: 31664666 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of low doses of atrazine administered during gestation and breastfeeding on sperm characteristics of the wild rodent Calomys laucha. Adult females were divided into groups of 10 and administered different doses of atrazine through gavage, during gestational or breastfeeding period. At 3 months of age, the F1 adult male progeny of these females was evaluated. We observed a drastic reduction in the total and progressive motility of male sperm cells at all doses and during both the exposure periods. Moreover, the plasma membrane integrity of adult male sperm cells decreased at all doses of atrazine administered during the breastfeeding, whereas the membrane fluidity of these cells increased at all tested doses. Atrazine led to a decrease in the sperm mitochondrial functionality at all doses and during both exposure periods. The damage to the sperm DNA was higher in males exposed to the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg) during the gestation period, and in animals exposed to the lowest dose of atrazine (0.1 mg/kg) during breastfeeding period. Furthermore, the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg) of atrazine reduced the sperm concentration. Furthermore, the reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed at all evaluated doses in males exposed during the gestation period. These results suggest that the administration of low doses of atrazine at critical periods of development may permanently reduce the sperm quality in C. laucha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Quintana Saalfeld
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, Km 08 s/n, Caixa Postal 474, Rio Grande, RS, Cep: 96201-900, Brazil.
| | - Antônio Sergio Varela Junior
- Reprodução Animal Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiane Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, Km 08 s/n, Caixa Postal 474, Rio Grande, RS, Cep: 96201-900, Brazil
| | - Diego Martins Pires
- ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Ribeiro Pereira
- Reprodução Animal Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Alves Pereira
- Reprodução Animal Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Carine Dahl Corcini
- Reprodução Animal Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
- ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Elton Pinto Colares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, Km 08 s/n, Caixa Postal 474, Rio Grande, RS, Cep: 96201-900, Brazil
- Reprodução Animal Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
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Sánchez O, Mendonca A, Min A, Liu J, Yuan C. Monitoring Histone Methylation (H3K9me3) Changes in Live Cells. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:13250-13259. [PMID: 31460452 PMCID: PMC6705211 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b01413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
H3K9me3 (methylation of lysine 9 of histone H3) is an epigenetic modification that acts as a repressor mark. Several diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders, have been associated with aberrant changes in H3K9me3 levels. Different tools have been developed to enable detection and quantification of H3K9me3 levels in cells. Most techniques, however, lack live cell compatibility. To address this concern, we have engineered recombinant protein sensors for probing H3K9me3 in situ. A heterodimeric sensor containing a chromodomain and chromo shadow domain from HP1a was found to be optimal in recognizing H3K9me3 and exhibited similar spatial resolution to commercial antibodies. Our sensor offers similar quantitative accuracy in characterizing changes in H3K9me3 compared to antibodies but claims single cell resolution. The sensor was applied to evaluate changes in H3K9me3 responding to environmental chemical atrazine (ATZ). ATZ was found to result in significant reductions in H3K9me3 levels after 24 h of exposure. Its impact on the distribution of H3K9me3 among cell populations was also assessed and found to be distinctive. We foresee the application of our sensors in multiple toxicity and drug-screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar
F. Sánchez
- Davidson
School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, 480 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette 47907, Indiana, United States
| | - Agnes Mendonca
- Davidson
School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, 480 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette 47907, Indiana, United States
| | - Alan Min
- Department
of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette 47907, Indiana, United States
| | - Jichang Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Chongli Yuan
- Davidson
School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, 480 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette 47907, Indiana, United States
- Purdue
University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette 47907, Indiana, United States
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20
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Sadler-Riggleman I, Klukovich R, Nilsson E, Beck D, Xie Y, Yan W, Skinner MK. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of testis pathology and Sertoli cell epimutations: generational origins of male infertility. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2019; 5:dvz013. [PMID: 31528361 PMCID: PMC6736068 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Male reproductive health has been in decline for decades with dropping sperm counts and increasing infertility, which has created a significant societal and economic burden. Between the 1970s and now, a general decline of over 50% in sperm concentration has been observed in the population. Environmental toxicant-induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance has been shown to affect testis pathology and sperm count. Sertoli cells have an essential role in spermatogenesis by providing physical and nutritional support for developing germ cells. The current study was designed to further investigate the transgenerational epigenetic changes in the rat Sertoli cell epigenome and transcriptome that are associated with the onset of testis disease. Gestating female F0 generation rats were transiently exposed during the period of fetal gonadal sex determination to the environmental toxicants, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) or vinclozolin. The F1 generation offspring were bred (i.e. intercross within the lineage) to produce the F2 generation grand-offspring that were then bred to produce the transgenerational F3 generation (i.e. great-grand-offspring) with no sibling or cousin breeding used. The focus of the current study was to investigate the transgenerational testis disease etiology, so F3 generation rats were utilized. The DNA and RNA were obtained from purified Sertoli cells isolated from postnatal 20-day-old male testis of F3 generation rats. Transgenerational alterations in DNA methylation, noncoding RNA, and gene expression were observed in the Sertoli cells from vinclozolin and DDT lineages when compared to the control (vehicle exposed) lineage. Genes associated with abnormal Sertoli cell function and testis pathology were identified, and the transgenerational impacts of vinclozolin and DDT were determined. Alterations in critical gene pathways, such as the pyruvate metabolism pathway, were identified. Observations suggest that ancestral exposures to environmental toxicants promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of Sertoli cell epigenetic and transcriptome alterations that associate with testis abnormalities. These epigenetic alterations appear to be critical factors in the developmental and generational origins of testis pathologies and male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Rachel Klukovich
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Eric 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
| | - Yeming Xie
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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21
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Wang X, Hill D, Tillitt DE, Bhandari RK. Bisphenol A and 17α-ethinylestradiol-induced transgenerational differences in expression of osmoregulatory genes in the gill of medaka (Oryzias latipes). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2019; 211:227-234. [PMID: 31048106 PMCID: PMC6626660 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic bisphenol A (BPA) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) exposure can have far reaching health effects in fish, including adult onset transgenerational reproductive abnormalities, anxiety, and cardiac disorders. It is unknown whether these two environmental estrogens can induce transgenerational abnormalities in the gill. The present study examined transgenerational effects of BPA or EE2 exposure on genes that are critical for osmoregulation in fish. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos were exposed to either BPA (100 μg/L) or EE2 (0.05 μg/L) for the first 7 days of embryonic development and never thereafter for the remainder of that generation (F0) and in subsequent generations of this study (F1, F2, and F3). Expression of osmoregulatory genes (NKAα1a, NKAα1b, NKAα1c, NKAα3a, NKAα3b, NKCC1a, and CFTR) were examined in gills of the first-generation (F0) adults which were directly exposed as embryo and in the fourth-generation adults (F3), which were never exposed to either of these environmental estrogens. Significant alterations in expression of osmoregulatory genes were observed in both F0 and F3 generations. Within the F0 generation, a sex-specific expression pattern was observed with a downregulation of osmoregulatory genes in males and an upregulation of osmoregulatory genes in females. At the F3 generation, this pattern reversed with the majority of the osmoregulatory genes upregulated in males and downregulated in females, suggesting that exposure to BPA and EE2 during embryonic development induced transgenerational impairment in molecular events associated with osmoregulatory functions in subsequent generations. These adverse outcomes may have impacts on physiological functions related to osmoregulation of fish inhabiting contaminated aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuegeng Wang
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, United States
| | - Diamond Hill
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, United States
| | - Donald E Tillitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, United States
| | - Ramji K Bhandari
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, United States.
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Dyke SOM, Saulnier KM, Dupras C, Webster AP, Maschke K, Rothstein M, Siebert R, Walter J, Beck S, Pastinen T, Joly Y. Points-to-consider on the return of results in epigenetic research. Genome Med 2019; 11:31. [PMID: 31122281 PMCID: PMC6533659 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-019-0646-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As epigenetic studies become more common and lead to new insights into health and disease, the return of individual epigenetic results to research participants, in particular in large-scale epigenomic studies, will be of growing importance. Members of the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) Bioethics Workgroup considered the potential ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) involved in returning epigenetic research results and incidental findings in order to produce a set of 'Points-to-consider' (P-t-C) for the epigenetics research community. These P-t-C draw on existing guidance on the return of genetic research results, while also integrating the IHEC Bioethics Workgroup's ELSI research on and discussion of the issues associated with epigenetic data as well as the experience of a return of results pilot study by the Personal Genome Project UK (PGP-UK). Major challenges include how to determine the clinical validity and actionability of epigenetic results, and considerations related to environmental exposures and epigenetic marks, including circumstances warranting the sharing of results with family members and third parties. Interdisciplinary collaboration and good public communication regarding epigenetic risk will be important to advance the return of results framework for epigenetic science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie O M Dyke
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G1, Canada.
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada.
| | - Katie M Saulnier
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Charles Dupras
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Amy P Webster
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, UK
| | | | - Mark Rothstein
- Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy and Law, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University Medical Center, 89091, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörn Walter
- Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Stephan Beck
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Tomi Pastinen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G1, Canada
- Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Yann Joly
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G1, Canada
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23
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Legoff L, Dali O, D'Cruz SC, Suglia A, Gely-Pernot A, Hémery C, Kernanec PY, Demmouche A, Kervarrec C, Tevosian S, Multigner L, Smagulova F. Ovarian dysfunction following prenatal exposure to an insecticide, chlordecone, associates with altered epigenetic features. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:29. [PMID: 31084621 PMCID: PMC6515617 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0276-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlordecone (CD) is an insecticide that was used in the French West Indies for several years to control the banana root borer pest. Given its nonsignificant degradation, it persists in the environment. CD is a carcinogenic compound with reproductive and developmental toxicity and is a recognized endocrine-disrupting chemical. In this study, we examined the effects of CD on female reproductive system of mice with the focus on epigenetic features in ovary. Our data show that gestational exposure to low dose of CD affects meiotic double-strand breaks repair in female embryos. In adult mice derived from CD-treated pregnant females, we observed delayed puberty, decreased number of primordial and increased number of atretic follicles. Gene expression analysis revealed that Rcbtb2 and Rbpms genes were not expressed in embryonic gonads. Estrogen signaling- and oocyte maturation-associated genes were downregulated in adult ovaries. The morphological changes were associated with altered epigenetic features: increased H2Aub and increased H3K27me3 and decreased H4ac and H3K4me3 in embryonic oocytes. The DNA damage-associated, γH2AX marks were detected in the follicles of treated but not control adult ovaries. We also found reduced H3K4me3 and H4ac in fully grown oocytes of the treated ovaries. The ChIP-seq analysis of H3K4me3 in adult ovaries showed that target genes of ZFP57 and TRIM28, which regulate pluripotency and imprinting, were significantly enriched in altered regions. Our study clearly demonstrates that gestational exposure to a low dose of CD impairs the function of female reproductive system and the changes are associated with altered epigenetic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Ouzna Dali
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France.,Biotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Djillali Liabes University, 22000, Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Antonio Suglia
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Aurore Gely-Pernot
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Chloé Hémery
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Kernanec
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Abbassia Demmouche
- Biotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Djillali Liabes University, 22000, Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria
| | - Christine Kervarrec
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Box 100144, 1333 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Luc Multigner
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France.
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24
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King SE, McBirney M, Beck D, Sadler-Riggleman I, Nilsson E, Skinner MK. Sperm epimutation biomarkers of obesity and pathologies following DDT induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2019; 5:dvz008. [PMID: 31186947 PMCID: PMC6536675 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has previously been shown to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease in rats. The current study investigated the potential that sperm epimutation biomarkers can be used to identify ancestral induced transgenerational obesity and associated pathologies. Gestating F0 generational female rats were transiently exposed to DDT during fetal gonadal sex determination, and the incidence of adult-onset pathologies was assessed in the subsequent F1, F2, and F3 generations. In addition, sperm differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) that were associated with specific pathologies in the transgenerational F3 generation males were investigated. There was an increase of testis disease and early-onset puberty in the F2 generation DDT lineage males. The F3 generation males and females had significant increases in the incidence of obesity and multiple disease. The F3 generation DDT males also had significant increases in testis disease, prostate disease, and late onset puberty. The F3 generation DDT females had increases in ovarian and kidney disease. Epigenetic alterations of the germline are required for the transgenerational inheritance of pathology. Therefore, the F3 generation sperm was collected to examine DMRs for the ancestrally exposed DDT male population. Unique sets of DMRs were associated with late onset puberty, prostate disease, kidney disease, testis disease, obesity, and multiple disease pathologies. Gene associations with the DMR were also identified. The epigenetic DMR signatures identified for these pathologies provide potential biomarkers for transgenerationally inherited disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E King
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Margaux McBirney
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Eric Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
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25
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Georgieff MK, Tran PV, Carlson ES. Atypical fetal development: Fetal alcohol syndrome, nutritional deprivation, teratogens, and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 30:1063-1086. [PMID: 30068419 PMCID: PMC6074054 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579418000500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that the fetal environment plays an important role in brain development and sets the brain on a trajectory across the life span. An abnormal fetal environment results when factors that should be present during a critical period of development are absent or when factors that should not be in the developing brain are present. While these factors may acutely disrupt brain function, the real cost to society resides in the long-term effects, which include important mental health issues. We review the effects of three factors, fetal alcohol exposure, teratogen exposure, and nutrient deficiencies, on the developing brain and the consequent risk for developmental psychopathology. Each is reviewed with respect to the evidence found in epidemiological and clinical studies in humans as well as preclinical molecular and cellular studies that explicate mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phu V Tran
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine
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26
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Gestational exposure to chlordecone promotes transgenerational changes in the murine reproductive system of males. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10274. [PMID: 29980752 PMCID: PMC6035262 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28670-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors can affect epigenetic events during germline reprogramming and impose distinctive transgenerational consequences onto the offspring. In this study, we examined the transgenerational effects of chlordecone (CD), an organochlorine insecticide with well-known estrogenic properties. We exposed pregnant mice to CD from embryonic day 6.5 to 15.5 and observed a reduction in spermatogonia (SG) numbers in F3, meiotic defects in spermatocytes and decrease in spermatozoa number in the first and third generation of male progeny. The RNA qRT-PCR expression analysis in F1 and transcriptomics analysis in F3 males using the whole testes revealed changes in the expression of genes associated with chromosome segregation, cell division and DNA repair. The expression of the master regulator of pluripotency, Pou5f1, decreased in foetal and increased in adult F1, but not in F3 adult testes. Analysis of histone H3K4me3 distribution revealed widespread changes in its occupancy in the genome of F1 and F3 generations. We established that 7.1% of altered epigenetic marks were conserved between F1 and F3 generations. The overlapping changes common to F1 and F3 include genes implicated in cell adhesion and transcription factor activities functions. Differential peaks observed in F1 males are significantly enriched in predicted ESR1 binding sites, some of which we confirmed to be functional. Our data demonstrate that CD-mediated impairment of reproductive functions could be transmitted to subsequent generations.
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27
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van Steenwyk G, Roszkowski M, Manuella F, Franklin TB, Mansuy IM. Transgenerational inheritance of behavioral and metabolic effects of paternal exposure to traumatic stress in early postnatal life: evidence in the 4th generation. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2018; 4:dvy023. [PMID: 30349741 PMCID: PMC6190267 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvy023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In the past decades, evidence supporting the transmission of acquired traits across generations has reshaped the field of genetics and the understanding of disease susceptibility. In humans, pioneer studies showed that exposure to famine, endocrine disruptors or trauma can affect descendants, and has led to a paradigm shift in thinking about heredity. Studies in humans have however been limited by the low number of successive generations, the different conditions that can be examined, and the lack of mechanistic insight they can provide. Animal models have been instrumental to circumvent these limitations and allowed studies on the mechanisms of inheritance of environmentally induced traits across generations in controlled and reproducible settings. However, most models available today are only intergenerational and do not demonstrate transmission beyond the direct offspring of exposed individuals. Here, we report transgenerational transmission of behavioral and metabolic phenotypes up to the 4th generation in a mouse model of paternal postnatal trauma (MSUS). Based on large animal numbers (up to 124 per group) from several independent breedings conducted 10 years apart by different experimenters, we show that depressive-like behaviors are transmitted to the offspring until the third generation, and risk-taking and glucose dysregulation until the fourth generation via males. The symptoms are consistent and reproducible, and persist with similar severity across generations. These results provide strong evidence that adverse conditions in early postnatal life can have transgenerational effects, and highlight the validity of MSUS as a solid model of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen van Steenwyk
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich & Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Roszkowski
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich & Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Manuella
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich & Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tamara B Franklin
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich & Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Centre, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Isabelle M Mansuy
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich & Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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28
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McBirney M, King SE, Pappalardo M, Houser E, Unkefer M, Nilsson E, Sadler-Riggleman I, Beck D, Winchester P, Skinner MK. Atrazine induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease, lean phenotype and sperm epimutation pathology biomarkers. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184306. [PMID: 28931070 PMCID: PMC5606923 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ancestral environmental exposures to a variety of environmental toxicants and other factors have been shown to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease. The current study examined the potential transgenerational actions of the herbicide atrazine. Atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the agricultural industry, in particular with corn and soy crops. Outbred gestating female rats were transiently exposed to a vehicle control or atrazine. The F1 generation offspring were bred to generate the F2 generation and then the F2 generation bred to generate the F3 generation. The F1, F2 and F3 generation control and atrazine lineage rats were aged and various pathologies investigated. The male sperm were collected to investigate DNA methylation differences between the control and atrazine lineage sperm. The F1 generation offspring (directly exposed as a fetus) did not develop disease, but weighed less compared to controls. The F2 generation (grand-offspring) was found to have increased frequency of testis disease and mammary tumors in males and females, early onset puberty in males, and decreased body weight in females compared to controls. The transgenerational F3 generation rats were found to have increased frequency of testis disease, early onset puberty in females, behavioral alterations (motor hyperactivity) and a lean phenotype in males and females. The frequency of multiple diseases was significantly higher in the transgenerational F3 generation atrazine lineage males and females. The transgenerational transmission of disease requires germline (egg or sperm) epigenetic alterations. The sperm differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs), termed epimutations, induced by atrazine were identified in the F1, F2 and F3 generations. Gene associations with the DMRs were identified. For the transgenerational F3 generation sperm, unique sets of DMRs (epimutations) were found to be associated with the lean phenotype or testis disease. These DMRs provide potential biomarkers for transgenerational disease. The etiology of disease appears to be in part due to environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance, and epigenetic biomarkers may facilitate the diagnosis of the ancestral exposure and disease susceptibility. Observations indicate that although atrazine does not promote disease in the directly exposed F1 generation, it does have the capacity to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux McBirney
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Stephanie E. King
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Michelle Pappalardo
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Houser
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Margaret Unkefer
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Eric Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ingrid Sadler-Riggleman
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Paul Winchester
- Indiana University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Michael K. Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
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Horan TS, Marre A, Hassold T, Lawson C, Hunt PA. Germline and reproductive tract effects intensify in male mice with successive generations of estrogenic exposure. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006885. [PMID: 28727826 PMCID: PMC5519010 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that developmental estrogenic exposure induces a constellation of male reproductive tract abnormalities is supported by experimental and human evidence. Experimental data also suggest that some induced effects persist in descendants of exposed males. These multi- and transgenerational effects are assumed to result from epigenetic changes to the germline, but few studies have directly analyzed germ cells. Typically, studies of transgenerational effects have involved exposing one generation and monitoring effects in subsequent unexposed generations. This approach, however, has limited human relevance, since both the number and volume of estrogenic contaminants has increased steadily over time, intensifying rather than reducing or eliminating exposure. Using an outbred CD-1 mouse model, and a sensitive and quantitative marker of germline development, meiotic recombination, we tested the effect of successive generations of exposure on the testis. We targeted the germline during a narrow, perinatal window using oral exposure to the synthetic estrogen, ethinyl estradiol. A complex three generation exposure protocol allowed us to compare the effects of individual, paternal, and grandpaternal (ancestral) exposure. Our data indicate that multiple generations of exposure not only exacerbate germ cell exposure effects, but also increase the incidence and severity of reproductive tract abnormalities. Taken together, our data suggest that male sensitivity to environmental estrogens is increased by successive generations of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan S. Horan
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alyssa Marre
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Terry Hassold
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Crystal Lawson
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Patricia A. Hunt
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
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30
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Phytochemicals Targeting Estrogen Receptors: Beneficial Rather Than Adverse Effects? Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18071381. [PMID: 28657580 PMCID: PMC5535874 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the effects of estrogen are mainly mediated by two different estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. These proteins are members of the nuclear receptor family, characterized by distinct structural and functional domains, and participate in the regulation of different biological processes, including cell growth, survival and differentiation. The two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes are generated from two distinct genes and have partially distinct expression patterns. Their activities are modulated differently by a range of natural and synthetic ligands. Some of these ligands show agonistic or antagonistic effects depending on ER subtype and are described as selective ER modulators (SERMs). Accordingly, a few phytochemicals, called phytoestrogens, which are synthesized from plants and vegetables, show low estrogenic activity or anti-estrogenic activity with potentially anti-proliferative effects that offer nutraceutical or pharmacological advantages. These compounds may be used as hormonal substitutes or as complements in breast cancer treatments. In this review, we discuss and summarize the in vitro and in vivo effects of certain phytoestrogens and their potential roles in the interaction with estrogen receptors.
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31
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Embryonic exposure to the widely-used herbicide atrazine disrupts meiosis and normal follicle formation in female mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3526. [PMID: 28615648 PMCID: PMC5471253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03738-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The widely-used herbicide atrazine (ATZ) is detected in ground and surface water in many countries. Several studies in animals have demonstrated that ATZ has endocrine-disrupting effects on male and female reproduction in many vertebrate species. In this study, we investigated the effects of ATZ exposure on meiosis, a key step in gametogenesis in mammals. The treatment was initiated before oocyte entry into meiosis, which occurs during the embryonic period in females. We found that embryonic exposure to ATZ increases the level of 8-oxo-guanine in the nucleus of meiotic cells, reflecting oxidative stress and affecting meiotic double-strand break repair, chromosome synapsis and crossover numbers. Finally, embryonic exposure to ATZ reduces the number of primordial follicles and increases the incidence of multi-oocyte follicles in adult mice. Our data demonstrate that embryonic exposure to ATZ disrupts prophase I of meiosis and affects normal follicle formation in female mice.
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