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Ionescu MI, Zahiu CDM, Vlad A, Galos F, Gradisteanu Pircalabioru G, Zagrean AM, O'Mahony SM. Nurturing development: how a mother's nutrition shapes offspring's brain through the gut. Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-23. [PMID: 38781488 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2349336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a transformative period marked by profound physical and emotional changes, with far-reaching consequences for both mother and child. Emerging research has illustrated the pivotal role of a mother's diet during pregnancy in influencing the prenatal gut microbiome and subsequently shaping the neurodevelopment of her offspring. The intricate interplay between maternal gut health, nutrition, and neurodevelopmental outcomes has emerged as a captivating field of investigation within developmental science. Acting as a dynamic bridge between mother and fetus, the maternal gut microbiome, directly and indirectly, impacts the offspring's neurodevelopment through diverse pathways. This comprehensive review delves into a spectrum of studies, clarifying putative mechanisms through which maternal nutrition, by modulating the gut microbiota, orchestrates the early stages of brain development. Drawing insights from animal models and human cohorts, this work underscores the profound implications of maternal gut health for neurodevelopmental trajectories and offers a glimpse into the formulation of targeted interventions able to optimize the health of both mother and offspring. The prospect of tailored dietary recommendations for expectant mothers emerges as a promising and accessible intervention to foster the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, potentially leading to enhanced cognitive outcomes and reduced risks of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Ioana Ionescu
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Carmen Denise Mihaela Zahiu
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adelina Vlad
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Felicia Galos
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Section Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, Section-ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana-Maria Zagrean
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Siobhain M O'Mahony
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Suszyńska-Zajczyk J, Witucki Ł, Perła-Kaján J, Jakubowski H. Diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia causes sex-dependent deficiencies in offspring musculature and brain function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1322844. [PMID: 38559811 PMCID: PMC10979824 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1322844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), characterized by elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular, renal, and neurological diseases, as well as pregnancy complications. Our study aimed to investigate whether HHcy induced by a high-methionine (high-Met) diet exacerbates cognitive and behavioral deficits in offspring and leads to other breeding problems. Dietary HHcy was induced four weeks before mating and continued throughout gestation and post-delivery. A battery of behavioral tests was conducted on offspring between postnatal days (PNDs) 5 and 30 to assess motor function/activity and cognition. The results were correlated with brain morphometric measurements and quantitative analysis of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/autophagy markers. The high-Met diet significantly increased parental and offspring urinary tHcy levels and influenced offspring behavior in a sex-dependent manner. Female offspring exhibited impaired cognition, potentially related to morphometric changes observed exclusively in HHcy females. Male HHcy pups demonstrated muscle weakness, evidenced by slower surface righting, reduced hind limb suspension (HLS) hanging time, weaker grip strength, and decreased activity in the beaker test. Western blot analyses indicated the downregulation of autophagy and the upregulation of mTOR activity in HHcy cortexes. HHcy also led to breeding impairments, including reduced breeding rate, in-utero fetal death, lower pups' body weight, and increased mortality, likely attributed to placental dysfunction associated with HHcy. In conclusion, a high-Met diet impairs memory and cognition in female juveniles and weakens muscle strength in male pups. These effects may stem from abnormal placental function affecting early neurogenesis, the dysregulation of autophagy-related pathways in the cortex, or epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation triggered by HHcy during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Suszyńska-Zajczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Witucki
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Joanna Perła-Kaján
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hieronim Jakubowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark, NJ, United States
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Herrera K, Maldonado-Ruiz R, Camacho-Morales A, de la Garza AL, Castro H. Maternal methyl donor supplementation regulates the effects of cafeteria diet on behavioral changes and nutritional status in male offspring. Food Nutr Res 2023; 67:9828. [PMID: 37920679 PMCID: PMC10619398 DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v67.9828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nutritional status and maternal feeding during the perinatal and postnatal periods can program the offspring to develop long-term health alterations. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between maternal obesity and intellectual disability/cognitive deficits like autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in offspring. Experimental findings have consistently been indicating that maternal supplementation with methyl donors, attenuated the social alterations and repetitive behavior in offspring. Objective This study aims to analyze the effect of maternal cafeteria diet and methyl donor-supplemented diets on social, anxiety-like, and repetitive behavior in male offspring, besides evaluating weight gain and food intake in both dams and male offspring. Design C57BL/6 female mice were randomized into four dietary formulas: control Chow (CT), cafeteria (CAF), control + methyl donor (CT+M), and cafeteria + methyl donor (CAF+M) during the pre-gestational, gestational, and lactation period. Behavioral phenotyping in the offspring was performed by 2-month-old using Three-Chamber Test, Open Field Test, and Marble Burying Test. Results We found that offspring prenatally exposed to CAF diet displayed less social interaction index when compared with subjects exposed to Chow diet (CT group). Notably, offspring exposed to CAF+M diet recovered social interaction when compared to the CAF group. Discussion These findings suggest that maternal CAF diet is efficient in promoting reduced social interaction in murine models. In our study, we hypothesized that a maternal methyl donor supplementation could improve the behavioral alterations expected in maternal CAF diet offspring. Conclusions The CAF diet also contributed to a social deficit and anxiety-like behavior in the offspring. On the other hand, a maternal methyl donor-supplemented CAF diet normalized the social interaction in the offspring although it led to an increase in anxiety-like behaviors. These findings suggest that a methyl donor supplementation could protect against aberrant social behavior probably targeting key genes related to neurotransmitter pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Herrera
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Salud Pública y Nutrición, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición y Salud Pública. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Roger Maldonado-Ruiz
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Unidad de Neurometabolismo, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Alberto Camacho-Morales
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Unidad de Neurometabolismo, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Ana Laura de la Garza
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Unidad de Nutrición, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Heriberto Castro
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Salud Pública y Nutrición, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición y Salud Pública. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Unidad de Nutrición, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud. Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
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Breach MR, Lenz KM. Sex Differences in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Key Role for the Immune System. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 62:165-206. [PMID: 35435643 PMCID: PMC10286778 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences are prominent defining features of neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the sex biases in these disorders can shed light on mechanisms leading to relative risk and resilience for the disorders, as well as more broadly advance our understanding of how sex differences may relate to brain development. The prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders is increasing, and the two most common neurodevelopmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit male-biases in prevalence rates and sex differences in symptomology. While the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders and their sex differences remain to be fully understood, increasing evidence suggests that the immune system plays a critical role in shaping development. In this chapter we discuss sex differences in prevalence and symptomology of ASD and ADHD, review sexual differentiation and immune regulation of neurodevelopment, and discuss findings from human and rodent studies of immune dysregulation and perinatal immune perturbation as they relate to potential mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. This chapter will give an overview of how understanding sex differences in neuroimmune function in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders could lend insight into their etiologies and better treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela R Breach
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kathryn M Lenz
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Laufer BI, Hasegawa Y, Zhang Z, Hogrefe CE, Del Rosso LA, Haapanen L, Hwang H, Bauman MD, Van de Water J, Taha AY, Slupsky CM, Golub MS, Capitanio JP, VandeVoort CA, Walker CK, LaSalle JM. Multi-omic brain and behavioral correlates of cell-free fetal DNA methylation in macaque maternal obesity models. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5538. [PMID: 36130949 PMCID: PMC9492781 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33162-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) risk. We utilized integrative multi-omics to examine maternal obesity effects on offspring neurodevelopment in rhesus macaques by comparison to lean controls and two interventions. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) from longitudinal maternal blood-derived cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) significantly overlapped with DMRs from infant brain. The DMRs were enriched for neurodevelopmental functions, methylation-sensitive developmental transcription factor motifs, and human NDD DMRs identified from brain and placenta. Brain and cffDNA methylation levels from a large region overlapping mir-663 correlated with maternal obesity, metabolic and immune markers, and infant behavior. A DUX4 hippocampal co-methylation network correlated with maternal obesity, infant behavior, infant hippocampal lipidomic and metabolomic profiles, and maternal blood measurements of DUX4 cffDNA methylation, cytokines, and metabolites. We conclude that in this model, maternal obesity was associated with changes in the infant brain and behavior, and these differences were detectable in pregnancy through integrative analyses of cffDNA methylation with immune and metabolic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin I Laufer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yu Hasegawa
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Laura A Del Rosso
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Lori Haapanen
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Hyeyeon Hwang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ameer Y Taha
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Carolyn M Slupsky
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Mari S Golub
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Catherine A VandeVoort
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cheryl K Walker
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Hasegawa Y, Zhang Z, Taha AY, Capitanio JP, Bauman MD, Golub MS, Van de Water J, VandeVoort CA, Walker CK, Slupsky CM. Impact of Maternal Obesity on the Gestational Metabolome and Infant Metabolome, Brain, and Behavioral Development in Rhesus Macaques. Metabolites 2022; 12:764. [PMID: 36005637 PMCID: PMC9415340 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12080764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal gestational obesity is associated with elevated risks for neurodevelopmental disorder, including autism spectrum disorder. However, the mechanisms by which maternal adiposity influences fetal developmental programming remain to be elucidated. We aimed to understand the impact of maternal obesity on the metabolism of both pregnant mothers and their offspring, as well as on metabolic, brain, and behavioral development of offspring by utilizing metabolomics, protein, and behavioral assays in a non-human primate model. We found that maternal obesity was associated with elevated inflammation and significant alterations in metabolites of energy metabolism and one-carbon metabolism in maternal plasma and urine, as well as in the placenta. Infants that were born to obese mothers were significantly larger at birth compared to those that were born to lean mothers. Additionally, they exhibited significantly reduced novelty preference and significant alterations in their emotional response to stress situations. These changes coincided with differences in the phosphorylation of enzymes in the brain mTOR signaling pathway between infants that were born to obese and lean mothers and correlated with the concentration of maternal plasma betaine during pregnancy. In summary, gestational obesity significantly impacted the infant systemic and brain metabolome and adaptive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Hasegawa
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Ameer Y. Taha
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - John P. Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Mari S. Golub
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Judy Van de Water
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Catherine A. VandeVoort
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Cheryl K. Walker
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Carolyn M. Slupsky
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Urbonaite G, Knyzeliene A, Bunn FS, Smalskys A, Neniskyte U. The impact of maternal high-fat diet on offspring neurodevelopment. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:909762. [PMID: 35937892 PMCID: PMC9354026 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.909762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A maternal high-fat diet affects offspring neurodevelopment with long-term consequences on their brain health and behavior. During the past three decades, obesity has rapidly increased in the whole human population worldwide, including women of reproductive age. It is known that maternal obesity caused by a high-fat diet may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. A maternal high-fat diet can affect offspring neurodevelopment due to inflammatory activation of the maternal gut, adipose tissue, and placenta, mirrored by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both maternal and fetal circulation. Furthermore, a maternal high fat diet causes gut microbial dysbiosis further contributing to increased inflammatory milieu during pregnancy and lactation, thus disturbing both prenatal and postnatal neurodevelopment of the offspring. In addition, global molecular and cellular changes in the offspring's brain may occur due to epigenetic modifications including the downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and the activation of the endocannabinoid system. These neurodevelopmental aberrations are reflected in behavioral deficits observed in animals, corresponding to behavioral phenotypes of certain neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. Here we reviewed recent findings from rodent models and from human studies to reveal potential mechanisms by which a maternal high-fat diet interferes with the neurodevelopment of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintare Urbonaite
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Agne Knyzeliene
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Fanny Sophia Bunn
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Adomas Smalskys
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Urte Neniskyte
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- VU LSC-EMBL Partnership for Genome Editing Technologies, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Ondičová M, Irwin RE, Thursby SJ, Hilman L, Caffrey A, Cassidy T, McLaughlin M, Lees-Murdock DJ, Ward M, Murphy M, Lamers Y, Pentieva K, McNulty H, Walsh CP. Folic acid intervention during pregnancy alters DNA methylation, affecting neural target genes through two distinct mechanisms. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:63. [PMID: 35578268 PMCID: PMC9112484 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01282-y] [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: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We previously showed that continued folic acid (FA) supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy appears to have beneficial effects on neurocognitive performance in children followed for up to 11 years, but the biological mechanism for this effect has remained unclear. Using samples from our randomized controlled trial of folic acid supplementation in second and third trimester (FASSTT), where significant improvements in cognitive and psychosocial performance were demonstrated in children from mothers supplemented in pregnancy with 400 µg/day FA compared with placebo, we examined methylation patterns from cord blood (CB) using the EPIC array which covers approximately 850,000 cytosine–guanine (CG) sites across the genome. Genes showing significant differences were verified using pyrosequencing and mechanistic approaches used in vitro to determine effects on transcription. Results FA supplementation resulted in significant differences in methylation, particularly at brain-related genes. Further analysis showed these genes split into two groups. In one group, which included the CES1 gene, methylation changes at the promoters were important for regulating transcription. We also identified a second group which had a characteristic bimodal profile, with low promoter and high gene body (GB) methylation. In the latter, loss of methylation in the GB is linked to decreases in transcription: this group included the PRKAR1B/HEATR2 genes and the dopamine receptor regulator PDE4C. Overall, methylation in CB also showed good correlation with methylation profiles seen in a published data set of late gestation foetal brain samples. Conclusion We show here clear alterations in DNA methylation at specific classes of neurodevelopmental genes in the same cohort of children, born to FA-supplemented mothers, who previously showed improved cognitive and psychosocial performance. Our results show measurable differences at neural genes which are important for transcriptional regulation and add to the supporting evidence for continued FA supplementation throughout later gestation. This trial was registered on 15 May 2013 at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN19917787. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01282-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Ondičová
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Rachelle E Irwin
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Sara-Jayne Thursby
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.,The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Luke Hilman
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Aoife Caffrey
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Tony Cassidy
- Psychology Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Marian McLaughlin
- Psychology Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Diane J Lees-Murdock
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Mary Ward
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Michelle Murphy
- Unitat de Medicina Preventiva i Salut Pública, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Yvonne Lamers
- Food, Nutrition, and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, and British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kristina Pentieva
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Helene McNulty
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Colum P Walsh
- Genomic Medicine Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. .,Centre for Research and Development, Region Gävleborg/Uppsala University, Gävle, Sweden.
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9
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Gawlińska K, Gawliński D, Borczyk M, Korostyński M, Przegaliński E, Filip M. A Maternal High-Fat Diet during Early Development Provokes Molecular Changes Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Rat Offspring Brain. Nutrients 2021; 13:3212. [PMID: 34579089 PMCID: PMC8467420 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disruptive neurodevelopmental disorder manifested by abnormal social interactions, communication, emotional circuits, and repetitive behaviors and is more often diagnosed in boys than in girls. It is postulated that ASD is caused by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetics provides a mechanistic link between exposure to an unbalanced maternal diet and persistent modifications in gene expression levels that can lead to phenotype changes in the offspring. To better understand the impact of the early development environment on the risk of ASD in offspring, we assessed the effect of maternal high-fat (HFD), high-carbohydrate, and mixed diets on molecular changes in adolescent and young adult offspring frontal cortex and hippocampus. Our results showed that maternal HFD significantly altered the expression of 48 ASD-related genes in the frontal cortex of male offspring. Moreover, exposure to maternal HFD led to sex- and age-dependent changes in the protein levels of ANKRD11, EIF4E, NF1, SETD1B, SHANK1 and TAOK2, as well as differences in DNA methylation levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the offspring. Taken together, it was concluded that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation periods can lead to abnormal brain development within the transcription and translation of ASD-related genes mainly in male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawlińska
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Borczyk
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Michał Korostyński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Edmund Przegaliński
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.G.); (E.P.); (M.F.)
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10
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Gawlińska K, Gawliński D, Kowal-Wiśniewska E, Jarmuż-Szymczak M, Filip M. Alteration of the Early Development Environment by Maternal Diet and the Occurrence of Autistic-like Phenotypes in Rat Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189662. [PMID: 34575826 PMCID: PMC8472469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological and preclinical studies suggest that maternal obesity increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Here, we assessed the effects of exposure to modified maternal diets limited to pregnancy and lactation on brain development and behavior in rat offspring of both sexes. Among the studied diets, a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) disturbed the expression of ASD-related genes (Cacna1d, Nlgn3, and Shank1) and proteins (SHANK1 and TAOK2) in the prefrontal cortex of male offspring during adolescence. In addition, a maternal high-fat diet induced epigenetic changes by increasing cortical global DNA methylation and the expression of miR-423 and miR-494. As well as the molecular changes, behavioral studies have shown male-specific disturbances in social interaction and an increase in repetitive behavior during adolescence. Most of the observed changes disappeared in adulthood. In conclusion, we demonstrated the contribution of a maternal HFD to the predisposition to an ASD-like phenotype in male adolescent offspring, while a protective effect occurred in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawlińska
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (D.G.); (M.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (D.G.); (M.F.)
| | - Ewelina Kowal-Wiśniewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (E.K.-W.); (M.J.-S.)
| | - Małgorzata Jarmuż-Szymczak
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (E.K.-W.); (M.J.-S.)
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (D.G.); (M.F.)
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11
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Bekdash RA. Early Life Nutrition and Mental Health: The Role of DNA Methylation. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093111. [PMID: 34578987 PMCID: PMC8469584 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Does the quality of our diet during early life impact our long-term mental health? Accumulating evidence suggests that nutrition interacts with our genes and that there is a strong association between the quality of diet and mental health throughout life. Environmental influences such as maternal diet during pregnancy or offspring diet have been shown to cause epigenetic changes during critical periods of development, such as chemical modifications of DNA or histones by methylation for the regulation of gene expression. One-carbon metabolism, which consists of the folate and methionine cycles, is influenced by the diet and generates S-Adenosylmethinoine (SAM), the main methyl donor for methylation reactions such as DNA and histone methylation. This review provides current knowledge on how the levels of one-carbon metabolism associated micronutrients such as choline, betaine, folate, methionine and B vitamins that play a role in brain function can impact our well-being and mental health across the lifespan. Micronutrients that act as methyl donors for SAM formation could affect global or gene methylation, altering gene expression and phenotype. Strategies should then be adopted to better understand how these nutrients work and their impact at different stages of development to provide individualized dietary recommendations for better mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rola A Bekdash
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
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12
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Gawliński D, Gawlińska K, Smaga I. Maternal High-Fat Diet Modulates Cnr1 Gene Expression in Male Rat Offspring. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13082885. [PMID: 34445045 PMCID: PMC8402185 DOI: 10.3390/nu13082885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, strong evidence has emerged that exposure to a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) provokes changes in the structure, function, and development of the offspring’s brain and may induce several neurodevelopmental and psychiatric illnesses. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation on depressive-like behavior and Cnr1 gene expression (encoding the CB1 receptor) in brain structures of rat offspring and to investigate the epigenetic mechanism involved in this gene expression. We found that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation induced a depressive-like phenotype at postnatal days (PNDs) 28 and 63. We found that a maternal HFD decreased the Cnr1 mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex with the increased levels of miR-212-5p and methylation of CpG islands at the Cnr1 promoter and reduced the level of Cnr1 gene expression in the dorsal striatum with an increased level of miR-154-3p in adolescent male offspring. A contrasting effect of a maternal HFD was observed in the hippocampus, where upregulation of Cnr1 gene expression was accompanied by a decrease of miR-154-3p (at PNDs 28 and 63) and miR-212-5p (at PND 63) expression and methylation of CpG islands at the Cnr1 promoter in male offspring. In summary, we showed that a maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation triggered several epigenetic mechanisms in the brains of rat offspring, which may be related to long-lasting alterations in the next generation and produce behavioral changes in offspring, including a depressive-like phenotype.
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13
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The impact of maternal obesity on childhood neurodevelopment. J Perinatol 2021; 41:928-939. [PMID: 33249428 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-00871-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There is growing clinical and experimental evidence to suggest that maternal obesity increases children's susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Given the worldwide obesity epidemic, it is crucial that we acquire a thorough understanding of the available evidence, identify gaps in knowledge, and develop an agenda for intervention. This review synthesizes human and animal studies investigating the association between maternal obesity and offspring brain health. It also highlights key mechanisms underlying these effects, including maternal and fetal inflammation, alterations to the microbiome, epigenetic modifications of neurotrophic genes, and impaired dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling. Lastly, this review highlights several proposed interventions and priorities for future investigation.
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14
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Liu X. Effects of Methyl Donors on L-Tryptophan Fermentation. Bioengineered 2021:21655979.2021.1882821. [PMID: 33522354 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1882821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl donors, a class of compounds that supply methyl groups to methyl acceptors, play important roles in the function, growth, and proliferation of cells; however, the methyl donor content in cells is not sufficient to meet their normal needs. In L-tryptophan production with E. coli, the growth and acid-producing ability of E. coli cells are weak due to the presence of exogenous plasmids that inhibit the growth of E. coli, and reduce the efficiency of exogenous gene expression. Therefore, the effect of methyl donors on L-tryptophan production was investigated. Among the methyl donors tested, choline chloride showed the most significant effect in promoting fermentation, followed by methionine. The optimum addition method involved the addition of 1.5 g/L methionine to the culture medium, combined with continuous feeding with a glucose solution containing 1 g/L choline chloride. The final tryptophan titer reached 53.5 g/L; the highest biomass of bacteria reached 51.8 g/L; and the main by-product, acetic acid, was reduced to 2.23 g/L, which had a significant impact on the fermentation results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocui Liu
- Department of Life Science of Shanxi Datong University, Datong Shanxi 037009, China
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15
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Interplay between Metabolism, Nutrition and Epigenetics in Shaping Brain DNA Methylation, Neural Function and Behavior. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070742. [PMID: 32635190 PMCID: PMC7397264 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in the brain is dramatically regulated by a variety of stimuli. While the role of neural activity has been extensively studied, less is known about the effects of metabolism and nutrition on transcriptional control mechanisms in the brain. Extracellular signals are integrated at the chromatin level through dynamic modifications of epigenetic marks, which in turn fine-tune gene transcription. In the last twenty years, it has become clear that epigenetics plays a crucial role in modulating central nervous system functions and finally behavior. Here, we will focus on the effect of metabolic signals in shaping brain DNA methylation, both during development and adulthood. We will provide an overview of maternal nutrition effects on brain methylation and behavior in offspring. In addition, the impact of different diet challenges on cytosine methylation dynamics in the adult brain will be discussed. Finally, the possible role played by the metabolic status in modulating DNA hydroxymethylation, which is particularly abundant in neural tissue, will be considered.
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Abstract
It shows that detrimental exposures and conditions in mothers can lead to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes in offspring. This can lead to a vicious cycle of metabolic dysfunction, where rising rates of obesity, pre-diabetes, and diabetes in individuals of reproductive age, propagating risks to subsequent generations. It is well established that regular exercise has important health benefits for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recently, increasing studies aim to examine the effects of maternal exercise on metabolic health in offspring. This review aims to demonstrate the evidence linking maternal exercise during critical periods of development and its implications for glucose metabolism in offspring, including intervention timing, sexual dimorphism, different exercise type, and intensity. Then we further examine the potential role of epigenetic modifications in this process.
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Wang M, Zhang Y, Miller D, Rehman NO, Cheng X, Yeo JY, Joe B, Hill JW. Microbial Reconstitution Reverses Early Female Puberty Induced by Maternal High-fat Diet During Lactation. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqz041. [PMID: 31912132 PMCID: PMC7035910 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqz041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent work shows that gut microbial dysbiosis contributes to the risk of obesity in children whose mothers consume a high-fat diet (HFD) during both gestation and lactation or during gestation alone. Obesity predisposes children to developing precocious puberty. However, to date, no study has examined how maternal HFD (MHFD) during lactation regulates the gut microbiota (GM), pubertal timing, and fertility of offspring. Here, we found that MHFD during lactation markedly altered the GM of offspring. The pups developed juvenile obesity, early puberty, irregular estrous cycles, and signs of disrupted glucose metabolism. Remarkably, permitting coprophagia between MHFD and maternal normal chow offspring successfully reversed the GM changes as well as early puberty and insulin insensitivity. Our data suggest that microbial reconstitution may prevent or treat early puberty associated with insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - Youjie Zhang
- Microbiome Consortium and Center for Hypertension and Precision Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - David Miller
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - Naveen O Rehman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - Xi Cheng
- Microbiome Consortium and Center for Hypertension and Precision Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - Ji-Youn Yeo
- Microbiome Consortium and Center for Hypertension and Precision Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - Bina Joe
- Microbiome Consortium and Center for Hypertension and Precision Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
| | - Jennifer W Hill
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, US
- Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, US
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18
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Silva LBAR, Pinheiro-Castro N, Novaes GM, Pascoal GDFL, Ong TP. Bioactive food compounds, epigenetics and chronic disease prevention: Focus on early-life interventions with polyphenols. Food Res Int 2019; 125:108646. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Dysregulation of Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Expression in the Pathologies of Hyperhomocysteinemia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133140. [PMID: 31252610 PMCID: PMC6651274 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) exerts a wide range of biological effects and is associated with a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, neural tube defects, and cancer. Although mechanisms of HHcy toxicity are not fully uncovered, there has been a significant progress in their understanding. The picture emerging from the studies of homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism and pathophysiology is a complex one, as Hcy and its metabolites affect biomolecules and processes in a tissue- and sex-specific manner. Because of their connection to one carbon metabolism and editing mechanisms in protein biosynthesis, Hcy and its metabolites impair epigenetic control of gene expression mediated by DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA, which underlies the pathology of human disease. In this review we summarize the recent evidence showing that epigenetic dysregulation of gene expression, mediated by changes in DNA methylation and histone N-homocysteinylation, is a pathogenic consequence of HHcy in many human diseases. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of human disease induced by Hcy and its metabolites, and suggest therapeutic targets for the prevention and/or treatment.
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20
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Zhao N, Yang S, Feng Y, Sun B, Zhao R. Enhanced hepatic cholesterol accumulation induced by maternal betaine exposure is associated with hypermethylation of CYP7A1 gene promoter. Endocrine 2019; 64:544-551. [PMID: 30924082 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-01906-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Betaine contains three methyl groups and plays a critical role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism via epigenetic modifications. However, it is unclear whether prenatal betaine intake could affect cholesterol metabolism of progeny through DNA methylation. METHODS Hence, pregnant rats were randomly divided into control and betaine groups fed standard diet or 1% betaine supplementation diet, respectively, throughout gestation and lactation. RESULTS Maternal betaine exposure significantly (P < 0.05) increased serum and hepatic cholesterol contents but not triglyceride levels in offspring rats. Accordantly, maternal intake of betaine markedly downregulated (P < 0.05) hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) expression at both the mRNA and protein level, while the protein content of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) was upregulated in the liver of betaine-exposed rats. In addition, prenatal betaine supplementation extremely increased (P < 0.05) hepatic betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) expression at the mRNA and protein level but not affected the expression of other key enzymes involved in methionine metabolism. Furthermore, hepatic hypermethylation of CYP7A1 gene promoter was observed in progeny rats derived from betaine-supplemented dams. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence that maternal betaine supplementation significantly enhances hepatic cholesterol contents accompanied with alterations of cholesterol metabolic genes and hypermethylation in offspring rats at weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Shu Yang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yue Feng
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Bo Sun
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Ruqian Zhao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health & Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, P. R. China.
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21
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Dearden L, Bouret SG, Ozanne SE. Sex and gender differences in developmental programming of metabolism. Mol Metab 2018; 15:8-19. [PMID: 29773464 PMCID: PMC6066743 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The early life environment experienced by an individual in utero and during the neonatal period is a major factor in shaping later life disease risk-including susceptibility to develop obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The incidence of metabolic disease is different between males and females. How the early life environment may underlie these sex differences is an area of active investigation. SCOPE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to summarize our current understanding of how the early life environment influences metabolic disease risk in a sex specific manner. We also discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for mediating these sexually dimorphic effects and highlight the results of recent intervention studies in animal models. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Exposure to states of both under- and over-nutrition during early life predisposes both sexes to develop metabolic disease. Females seem particularly susceptible to develop increased adiposity and disrupted glucose homeostasis as a result of exposure to in utero undernutrition or high sugar environments, respectively. The male placenta is particularly vulnerable to damage by adverse nutritional states and this may underlie some of the metabolic phenotypes observed in adulthood. More studies investigating both sexes are needed to understand how changes to the early life environment impact differently on the long-term health of male and female individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dearden
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Level 4, Box 289, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastien G Bouret
- The Saban Research Institute, Developmental Neuroscience Program & Diabetes and Obesity Program, Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA; Inserm, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, U1172, University Lille 2, Lille, 59045, France
| | - Susan E Ozanne
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Level 4, Box 289, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
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22
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Guo T, Wang H, Liu P, Xiao Y, Wu P, Wang Y, Chen B, Zhao Q, Liu Z, Liu Q. SNHG6 Acts as a Genome-Wide Hypomethylation Trigger via Coupling of miR-1297–Mediated S-Adenosylmethionine–Dependent Positive Feedback Loops. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3849-3864. [PMID: 29844127 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Hongling Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Pengpeng Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yushao Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Baiyang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Qiu Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Zhisu Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China.
| | - Quanyan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China.
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23
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Plucińska K, Barger SW. Maternal obesity reprograms offspring's executive brain centers in a sex-specific manner?: An Editorial for 'Perinatal high fat diet and early life methyl donor supplementation alter one carbon metabolism and DNA methylation in the brain' on page 362. J Neurochem 2018; 145:358-361. [PMID: 29663393 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
This editorial highlights an article by McKee and colleagues in the current issue of Journal of Neurochemistry, in which the authors report epigenetic changes linked to one-carbon metabolism in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of murine offspring from dams fed high-fat diet to mimic maternal obesity. The group found that high-fat diet feeding in utero increases weight gain in offspring and dynamically alters DNA methylation in the PFC of male but not female brains. These epigenetic marks were associated with a shift in brain one-carbon metabolism (folate and methionine) intermediates and were normalized by early-life methyl-donor supplementation in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Plucińska
- Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Section of Integrative Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steven W Barger
- Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock AR, USA
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