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Freire T, Pulpitel T, Clark X, Mackay F, Raubenheimer D, Simpson SJ, Solon-Biet SM, Crean AJ. The effects of paternal dietary fat versus sugar on offspring body composition and anxiety-related behavior. Physiol Behav 2024; 279:114533. [PMID: 38552707 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that the pre-conception parental environment has long-term consequences for offspring health and disease susceptibility. Though much of the work in this field concentrates on maternal influences, there is growing understanding that fathers also play a significant role in affecting offspring phenotypes. In this study, we investigate effects of altering the proportion of dietary fats and carbohydrates on paternal and offspring body composition and anxiety-related behavior in C57Bl/6-JArc mice. We show that in an isocaloric context, greater dietary fat increased body fat and reduced anxiety-like behavior of studs, whereas increased dietary sucrose had no significant effect. These dietary effects were not reflected in offspring traits, rather, we found sex-specific effects that differed between offspring body composition and behavioral traits. This finding is consistent with past paternal effect studies, where transgenerational effects have been shown to be more prominent in one sex over the other. Here, male offspring of fathers fed high-fat diets were heavier at 10 weeks of age due to increased lean body mass, whereas paternal diet had no significant effect on female offspring body fat or lean mass. In contrast, paternal dietary sugar appeared to have the strongest effects on male offspring behavior, with male offspring of high-sucrose fathers spending less time in the closed arms of the elevated plus maze. Both high-fat and high-sugar paternal diets were found to reduce anxiety-like behavior of female offspring, although this effect was only evident when offspring were fed a control diet. This study provides new understanding of the ways in which diet can shape the behavior of fathers and their offspring and contribute to the development of dietary guidelines to improve obesity and mental health conditions, such as anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese Freire
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia.
| | - Tamara Pulpitel
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Ximonie Clark
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Flora Mackay
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen J Simpson
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Samantha M Solon-Biet
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Angela J Crean
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney NSW, Australia
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2
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Chen E, da Cruz RS, Nascimento A, Joshi M, Pereira DG, Dominguez O, Fernandes G, Smith M, Paiva SPC, de Assis S. Paternal DDT exposure induces sex-specific programming of fetal growth, placenta development and offspring's health phenotypes in a mouse model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7567. [PMID: 38555297 PMCID: PMC10981700 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58176-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that environmentally induced epigenetic inheritance occurs in mammals and that traits in the progeny can be shaped by parental environmental experiences. Epidemiological studies link parental exposure to environmental toxicants, such as the pesticide DDT, to health phenotypes in the progeny, including low birth and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Here, we show that the progeny of male mice exposed to DDT in the pre-conception period are born smaller and exhibit sexual dimorphism in metabolic function, with male, but not female, offspring developing severe glucose intolerance compared to controls. These phenotypes in DDT offspring were linked to reduced fetal growth and placenta size as well as placenta-specific reduction of glycogen levels and the nutrient sensor and epigenetic regulator OGT, with more pronounced phenotypes observed in male placentas. However, placenta-specific genetic reduction of OGT only partially replicates the metabolic phenotype observed in offspring of DDT-exposed males. Our findings reveal a role for paternal pre-conception environmental experiences in shaping placenta development and in fetal growth restriction. While many questions remain, our data raise the tantalizing possibility that placenta programming could be a mediator of environmentally induced intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of phenotypes and needs to be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Chen
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Raquel Santana da Cruz
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Aallya Nascimento
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Meghali Joshi
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Duane Gischewski Pereira
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Odalys Dominguez
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Gabriela Fernandes
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Megan Smith
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Sara P C Paiva
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sonia de Assis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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3
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Capobianco E, Pirrone I. Paternal programming of fetoplacental and offspring metabolic disorders. Placenta 2023; 141:71-77. [PMID: 37355440 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
The alarming increase in the prevalence of metabolic pathologies is of worldwide concern and has been linked not only to genetic factors but also to a large number of non-genetic factors. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the study of the programming of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, by paternal exposure, a paradigm termed "Paternal Origins of Health and Disease" (POHaD). This term derives from the better known "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease" (DOHaD), which focuses on the involvement of the maternal intrauterine environment and complications during pregnancy associated with the health and disease of the offspring. Studies on paternal programming have documented environmentally induced epigenetic modifications in the male germline and in seminal plasma, which lead to intergenerational and transgenerational phenotypes, evident already during fetoplacental development. Studies with animal models at both ends of the nutritional spectrum (undernutrition or overnutrition) have been performed to understand the possible mechanisms and signaling pathways leading to the programming of metabolic disorders by exploring epigenetic changes throughout the life of the offspring. The aim of this review was to address the evidence of the programming of fetoplacental developmental alterations and metabolic pathologies in the offspring of males with metabolic disorders and unhealthy exposures, highlighting the mechanisms involved in such programming and looking for paternal interventions to reduce negative health outcomes in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelina Capobianco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Laboratory of Reproduction and Metabolism, CEFYBO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Irune Pirrone
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Laboratory of Reproduction and Metabolism, CEFYBO, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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4
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Jeong DS, Lee JY, Kim MH, Oh JH. Regulation of sexually dimorphic placental adaptation in LPS exposure-induced intrauterine growth restriction. Mol Med 2023; 29:114. [PMID: 37718409 PMCID: PMC10506314 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual dimorphism in placental physiology affects the functionality of placental adaptation during adverse pregnancy. Defects of placental function compromise fetal programming, affecting the offspring's adult life. However, studies focusing on the relationship between sex-specific placental adaptation and consequent fetal maldevelopment under sub-optimal uterus milieu are still elusive. METHODS Here, we investigated the effects of maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure between placental sex. Pregnant ICR mice received intraperitoneal injection of phosphate-buffered saline or 100, 200, and 400 µg/kg LPS on the gestational day (GD) 15.5. To determine whether prenatal maternal LPS exposure resulted in complicated pregnancy outcomes, survival rate of embryos was calculated and the growth of embryos and placentas was examined. To elucidate global transcriptomic changes occurring in the placenta, total RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in female and male placentas. RESULTS LPS administration induced placental inflammation in both sexes at GD 17.5. Prenatal infection resulted in growth retardation in both sexes of embryos, and especially more prevalently in male. Impaired placental development was observed in a sex-specific manner. LPS 400 µg/kg reduced the percentage area of the labyrinth in females and junctional zone in males, respectively. RNA-sequencing revealed widespread sexually dimorphic transcriptional changes in placenta. In particular, representative changes were involved in biological processes such as trophoblast differentiation, nutrient/ion transporter, pregnancy, and immune system. CONCLUSIONS Our results present the sexually dimorphic responses of placental physiology in intrauterine growth restriction model and provide tentative relationship further to be elucidated between sex-biased placental functional change and long-term effects on the offspring's later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Som Jeong
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology Laboratory, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yeon Lee
- Vivozon, Inc, Kolon Digital Tower3, 49, Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Hee Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology Laboratory, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ji Hoon Oh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Keimyung University College of Natural Sciences, Daegu, 42601, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Lin Y, Chen Z, Qian Q, Wang Y, Xiu X, Ou P, Fang J, Li G. Effects of paternal obesity on maternal-neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in adolescents. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1114250. [PMID: 37082119 PMCID: PMC10111374 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1114250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveThis study evaluated whether paternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy was a risk factor for maternal-neonatal outcomes and long-term prognosis in offspring.MethodsThis study included 29,518 participants from eight cities in Fujian, China using a stratified cluster random sampling method from May to September 2019. They were divided into four groups based on paternal BMI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between paternal BMI groups, maternal-neonatal outcomes, and long-term prognosis in offspring. Further subgroup analysis was conducted to examine the stability of the risk. ResultsThe incidences of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP), cesarean delivery, gestational weight gain (GWG) over guideline, and macrosomia were significantly higher in the paternal overweight and obesity group. Importantly, this study demonstrated that the incidence of asthma, hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), anemia, dental caries, and obesity of adolescents in paternal obesity increased. Furthermore, logistic regression and subgroup analysis confirm paternal obesity is a risk factor for HDCP, cesarean delivery, and macrosomia. It caused poor long-term prognosis in adolescents, including asthma, dental caries, and HFMD.ConclusionsPaternal obesity is a risk factor for adverse maternal-neonatal outcomes and poor long-term prognosis in adolescents. In addition to focusing on maternal weight, expectant fathers should pay more attention to weight management since BMI is a modifiable risk factor. Preventing paternal obesity can lead to better maternal and child outcomes. It would provide new opportunities for chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Lin
- Department of Healthcare, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qinfang Qian
- Department of Child Healthcare Centre, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanxia Wang
- Department of Child Healthcare Centre, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ping Ou
- Department of Healthcare, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guobo Li, ; Jiaoning Fang, ; Ping Ou,
| | - Jiaoning Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guobo Li, ; Jiaoning Fang, ; Ping Ou,
| | - Guobo Li
- Department of Child Healthcare Centre, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guobo Li, ; Jiaoning Fang, ; Ping Ou,
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Deshpande SSS, Bera P, Khambata K, Balasinor NH. Paternal obesity induces epigenetic aberrations and gene expression changes in placenta and fetus. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:109-126. [PMID: 36541371 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Paternal epigenome regulates placental and fetal growth. However, the effect of paternal obesity on placenta and its subsequent effect on the fetus via sperm remains unknown. We previously discovered abnormal methylation of imprinted genes involved in placental and fetal development in the spermatozoa of obese rats. In the present study, elaborate epigenetic characterization of sperm, placenta, and fetus was performed. For 16 weeks, male rats were fed either control or a high-fat diet. Following mating studies, sperm, placenta, and fetal tissue were collected. Significant changes were observed in placental weights, morphology, and cell populations. Methylation status of imprinted genes-Igf2, Peg3, Cdkn1c, and Gnas in spermatozoa, correlated with their expression in the placenta and fetus. Placental DNA methylating enzymes and 5-methylCytosine levels increased. Furthermore, in spermatozoa, DNA methylation of a few genes involved in pathways associated with placental endocrine function-gonadotropin-releasing hormone, prolactin, estrogen, and vascular endothelial growth factor, correlated with their expression in placenta and fetus. Changes in histone-modifying enzymes were also observed in the placenta. Histone marks H3K4me3, H3K9me3, and H4ac were downregulated, while H3K27me3 and H3ac were upregulated in placentas derived from obese male rats. This study shows that obesity-related changes in sperm methylome translate into abnormal expression in the F1-placenta fathered by the obese male, presumably affecting placental and fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharvari S S Deshpande
- Neuroendocrinology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.,Integrative Physiology and Metabolism Section, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Priyanka Bera
- Gamete Immunobiology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Kushaan Khambata
- Gamete Immunobiology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Nafisa H Balasinor
- Neuroendocrinology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
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7
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Bagher Hosseini N, Moosapour S, Fakhar HBZ, Nazari AR, Hasehmi MO, Hadavand F, Seraj M, Akbari ME. Can paternal environmental experiences affect the breast cancer risk in offspring? A systematic review. Breast Dis 2023; 42:361-374. [PMID: 38073366 DOI: 10.3233/bd-220062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies in recent years have shown that parental environmental experiences can affect their offspring's risk of breast cancer (BC). We assessed the effect of different paternal factors on BC risk in offspring by reviewing the existing literature. METHOD This systematic review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) method for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. The primary keywords were searched in reliable databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, SID, and Wiley in English until 31 December 2021. Two authors independently examined the articles in terms of inclusion criteria and quality assessment of the articles. RESULTS Of the 438 studies, 19 met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review and were included in the study. Paternal factors investigated in these studies included age at delivery, diet, occupational exposures, occupation type and education. The reported relationships between these factors and breast cancer varied among different studies. CONCLUSION Studies considered in this article show that fathers' age at the time of delivery of the child, dietary habits, overweight and occupational factors can affect the incidence of BC risk in the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najmeh Bagher Hosseini
- Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Moosapour
- Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Afshin Ryan Nazari
- Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Omrani Hasehmi
- Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hadavand
- Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Seraj
- Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Deluao JC, Winstanley Y, Robker RL, Pacella-Ince L, Gonzalez MB, McPherson NO. OXIDATIVE STRESS AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION: Reactive oxygen species in the mammalian pre-implantation embryo. Reproduction 2022; 164:F95-F108. [PMID: 36111646 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In brief Reactive oxygen species are generated throughout the pre-implantation period and are necessary for normal embryo formation. However, at pathological levels, they result in reduced embryo viability which can be mediated through factors delivered by sperm and eggs at conception or from the external environment. Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) occur naturally in pre-implantation embryos as a by-product of ATP generation through oxidative phosphorylation and enzymes such as NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase. Biological concentrations of ROS are required for crucial embryonic events such as pronuclear formation, first cleavage and cell proliferation. However, high concentrations of ROS are detrimental to embryo development, resulting in embryo arrest, increased DNA damage and modification of gene expression leading to aberrant fetal growth and health. In vivo embryos are protected against oxidative stress by oxygen scavengers present in follicular and oviductal fluids, while in vitro, embryos rely on their own antioxidant defence mechanisms to protect against oxidative damage, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutamylcysteine synthestase. Pre-implantation embryonic ROS originate from eggs, sperm and embryos themselves or from the external environment (i.e. in vitro culture system, obesity and ageing). This review examines the biological and pathological roles of ROS in the pre-implantation embryo, maternal and paternal origins of embryonic ROS, and from a clinical perspective, we comment on the growing interest in combating increased oxidative damage in the pre-implantation embryo through the addition of antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Deluao
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Yasmyn Winstanley
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Robker
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leanne Pacella-Ince
- Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Repromed, Dulwich, Australia
| | - Macarena B Gonzalez
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nicole O McPherson
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Adelaide Health and Medical School, School of Biomedicine, Discipline of Reproduction and Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Repromed, Dulwich, Australia
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Bhadsavle SS, Golding MC. Paternal epigenetic influences on placental health and their impacts on offspring development and disease. Front Genet 2022; 13:1068408. [PMID: 36468017 PMCID: PMC9716072 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1068408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Our efforts to understand the developmental origins of birth defects and disease have primarily focused on maternal exposures and intrauterine stressors. Recently, research into non-genomic mechanisms of inheritance has led to the recognition that epigenetic factors carried in sperm also significantly impact the health of future generations. However, although researchers have described a range of potential epigenetic signals transmitted through sperm, we have yet to obtain a mechanistic understanding of how these paternally-inherited factors influence offspring development and modify life-long health. In this endeavor, the emerging influence of the paternal epigenetic program on placental development, patterning, and function may help explain how a diverse range of male exposures induce comparable intergenerational effects on offspring health. During pregnancy, the placenta serves as the dynamic interface between mother and fetus, regulating nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange and coordinating fetal growth and maturation. Studies examining intrauterine maternal stressors routinely describe alterations in placental growth, histological organization, and glycogen content, which correlate with well-described influences on infant health and adult onset of disease. Significantly, the emergence of similar phenotypes in models examining preconception male exposures indicates that paternal stressors transmit an epigenetic memory to their offspring that also negatively impacts placental function. Like maternal models, paternally programmed placental dysfunction exerts life-long consequences on offspring health, particularly metabolic function. Here, focusing primarily on rodent models, we review the literature and discuss the influences of preconception male health and exposure history on placental growth and patterning. We emphasize the emergence of common placental phenotypes shared between models examining preconception male and intrauterine stressors but note that the direction of change frequently differs between maternal and paternal exposures. We posit that alterations in placental growth, histological organization, and glycogen content broadly serve as reliable markers of altered paternal developmental programming, predicting the emergence of structural and metabolic defects in the offspring. Finally, we suggest the existence of an unrecognized developmental axis between the male germline and the extraembryonic lineages that may have evolved to enhance fetal adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael C. Golding
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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10
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Cechinel LR, Batabyal RA, Freishtat RJ, Zohn IE. Parental obesity-induced changes in developmental programming. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:918080. [PMID: 36274855 PMCID: PMC9585252 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.918080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies support the link between parental obesity and the predisposition to develop adult-onset metabolic syndromes that include obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes in the offspring. As the prevalence of obesity increases in persons of childbearing age, so does metabolic syndrome in their descendants. Understanding how parental obesity alters metabolic programs in the progeny, predisposing them to adult-onset metabolic syndrome, is key to breaking this cycle. This review explores the basis for altered metabolism of offspring exposed to overnutrition by focusing on critical developmental processes influenced by parental obesity. We draw from human and animal model studies, highlighting the adaptations in metabolism that occur during normal pregnancy that become maladaptive with obesity. We describe essential phases of development impacted by parental obesity that contribute to long-term alterations in metabolism in the offspring. These encompass gamete formation, placentation, adipogenesis, pancreas development, and development of brain appetite control circuits. Parental obesity alters the developmental programming of these organs in part by inducing epigenetic changes with long-term consequences on metabolism. While exposure to parental obesity during any of these phases is sufficient to alter long-term metabolism, offspring often experience multiple exposures throughout their development. These insults accumulate to increase further the susceptibility of the offspring to the obesogenic environments of modern society.
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11
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sncRNAs in Epididymosomes: The Contribution to Embryonic Development and Offspring Health. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810851. [PMID: 36142765 PMCID: PMC9501405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Much progress has been made in determining that paternal environmental exposures can remodel their spermatozoa small noncoding RNAs (sncRANs) and, in turn, affect the phenotypes of their offspring. Studies have shown that changes in the spermatozoa sncRNAs profile occur during passing through the epididymis. Due to the absence of transcription and translation in the epididymis, spermatozoa remodel their sncRNAs profile through communication with the epididymal microenvironment. Since epididymosomes contribute to the process of spermatozoa maturation by mediating the crosstalk between the epididymis and the passing spermatozoa, they are considered to be the leading candidate to mediate these changes. Previous studies and reviews on the role of epididymal transfer proteins in sperm maturation and function are myriad. This review focuses on the role and mechanisms of epididymosome-mediated transfer of sncRNAs cargoes onembryonic development and offspring health.
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12
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Kearns ML, MacAindriu F, Reynolds CM. The Impact of Non-caloric Sweeteners on Male Fertility: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis in Rodent Models. Front Nutr 2022; 9:854074. [PMID: 35836587 PMCID: PMC9274198 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.854074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors which influence fertility is essential for developing appropriate nutritional recommendations for couples trying to conceive. Non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) are increasing in the food chain and despite being no/low calorie, several adverse metabolic consequences have been attributed to their consumption. Their effects on reproduction have been relatively under-researched, particularly in males. This review aims to systematically review the literature for evidence of the effect of NCS on male fertility in rodents, with sperm parameters (sperm quantity and quality) assessed as primary outcomes. Given the lack of information available in humans this review has been carried out using evidence from rodent models. Risk of bias assessment was carried out using the Syrcle risk of bias tool. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Forty-four percent showed a negative effect of NCS on male reproductive parameters compared with controls. The effects of NCS on fertility have been conflicting and selected studies have been heterogeneous in relation to study design. It is unclear if NCS has an impact on male reproductive function. There is a need for randomized controlled trials using a standardized protocol for analysis, to formulate a clear message in terms of male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L. Kearns
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute/Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fionn MacAindriu
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Clare M. Reynolds
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute/Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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13
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Li W, Yuan X, He X, Yang L, Wu Y, Deng X, Zeng Y, Hu K, Tang B. The downregulation of miR-22 and miR-372 may contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus through regulating glucose metabolism via the PI3K/AKT/GLUT4 pathway. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24557. [PMID: 35712865 PMCID: PMC9279990 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Identifying effective regulatory mechanisms will be significant for Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis and treatment. Methods The expressions of miR‐22 and miR‐372 in placenta tissues from 75 pregnant women with GDM and 75 matched healthy controls and HRT8/SVneo cells (a model of insulin resistance) were analyzed by qPCR. The expressions of PI3K, AKT, IRS, and GLUT4 in high glucose‐treated HRT8/SVneo cells transfected with miR‐22 or miR‐372 mimics or inhibitors was assessed by Western blot. A luciferase gene reporter assay was employed to verify miRNAs' target genes. Results The expressions of miR‐22 and miR‐372 in placental tissues from GDM patients and HRT8/SVneo cells were significantly decreased compared with the respective controls. The GLUT4 expression was significantly decreased in the placenta tissues of GDM and HRT8/SVneo cells with high glucose transfected with miR‐22 and miR‐372 inhibitors. We confirmed that SLC2A4, the gene encoding GLUT4, was a direct target of miR‐22 and miR‐372. In this study, we report that the lower expressions of miR‐22 and miR‐372 in placental tissue from GDM patients. Conclusion Our results further suggested that the downregulations of miR‐22 and miR‐372 may contribute to GDM through regulating the PI3K/GLUT4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianlin Yuan
- Department of Food and Biological Engineering, Guangdong Industry Technical College, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingyuan Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Deng
- Department of Central Sterile Supply, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Zeng
- Department of Endocrinology, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kesheng Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Tang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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14
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Sandovici I, Fernandez-Twinn DS, Hufnagel A, Constância M, Ozanne SE. Sex differences in the intergenerational inheritance of metabolic traits. Nat Metab 2022; 4:507-523. [PMID: 35637347 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00570-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Strong evidence suggests that early-life exposures to suboptimal environmental factors, including those in utero, influence our long-term metabolic health. This has been termed developmental programming. Mounting evidence suggests that the growth and metabolism of male and female fetuses differ. Therefore, sexual dimorphism in response to pre-conception or early-life exposures could contribute to known sex differences in susceptibility to poor metabolic health in adulthood. However, until recently, many studies, especially those in animal models, focused on a single sex, or, often in the case of studies performed during intrauterine development, did not report the sex of the animal at all. In this review, we (a) summarize the evidence that male and females respond differently to a suboptimal pre-conceptional or in utero environment, (b) explore the potential biological mechanisms that underlie these differences and (c) review the consequences of these differences for long-term metabolic health, including that of subsequent generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ionel Sandovici
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Denise S Fernandez-Twinn
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Antonia Hufnagel
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Miguel Constância
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Susan E Ozanne
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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15
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Jazwiec PA, Patterson VS, Ribeiro TA, Yeo E, Kennedy KM, Mathias PCF, Petrik JJ, Sloboda DM. Paternal obesity induces placental hypoxia and sex-specific impairments in placental vascularization and offspring metabolism. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:574-589. [PMID: 35377412 PMCID: PMC9382389 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Paternal obesity predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated whether this metabolic dysfunction is associated with changes in placental vascular development and is fueled by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated changes in fetal hepatic development. We also determined whether paternal obesity indirectly affects the in utero environment by disrupting maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy. Male mice fed a standard chow or high fat diet (60%kcal fat) for 8–10 weeks were time-mated with female mice to generate pregnancies and offspring. Glucose tolerance was evaluated in dams at mid-gestation (embryonic day (E) 14.5) and late gestation (E18.5). Hypoxia, angiogenesis, endocrine function, macronutrient transport, and ER stress markers were evaluated in E14.5 and E18.5 placentae and/or fetal livers. Maternal glucose tolerance was assessed at E14.5 and E18.5. Metabolic parameters were assessed in offspring at ~60 days of age. Paternal obesity did not alter maternal glucose tolerance but induced placental hypoxia and altered placental angiogenic markers, with the most pronounced effects in female placentae. Paternal obesity increased ER stress-related protein levels (ATF6 and PERK) in the fetal liver and altered hepatic expression of gluconeogenic factors at E18.5. Offspring of obese fathers were glucose intolerant and had impaired whole-body energy metabolism, with more pronounced effects in female offspring. Metabolic deficits in offspring due to paternal obesity may be mediated by sex-specific changes in placental vessel structure and integrity that contribute to placental hypoxia and may lead to poor fetal oxygenation and impairments in fetal metabolic signaling pathways in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja A Jazwiec
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Violet S Patterson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Tatiane A Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Paraná 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Erica Yeo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Katherine M Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Paulo C F Mathias
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Paraná 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Jim J Petrik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Deborah M Sloboda
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada
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16
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Lønnebotn M, Calciano L, Johannessen A, Jarvis DL, Abramson MJ, Benediktsdóttir B, Bråbäck L, Franklin KA, Godoy R, Holm M, Janson C, Jõgi NO, Kirkeleit J, Malinovschi A, Pereira-Vega A, Schlünssen V, Dharmage SC, Accordini S, Gómez Real F, Svanes C. Parental Prepuberty Overweight and Offspring Lung Function. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071506. [PMID: 35406119 PMCID: PMC9002985 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In a recent study we found that fathers' but not mothers' onset of overweight in puberty was associated with asthma in adult offspring. The potential impact on offspring's adult lung function, a key marker of general and respiratory health, has not been studied. We investigated the potential causal effects of parents' overweight on adult offspring's lung function within the paternal and maternal lines. We included 929 offspring (aged 18-54, 54% daughters) of 308 fathers and 388 mothers (aged 40-66). Counterfactual-based multi-group mediation analyses by offspring's sex (potential moderator) were used, with offspring's prepubertal overweight and/or adult height as potential mediators. Unknown confounding was addressed by simulation analyses. Fathers' overweight before puberty had a negative indirect effect, mediated through sons' height, on sons' forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (beta (95% CI): -144 (-272, -23) mL) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (beta (95% CI): -210 (-380, -34) mL), and a negative direct effect on sons' FVC (beta (95% CI): -262 (-501, -9) mL); statistically significant effects on FEV1/FVC were not observed. Mothers' overweight before puberty had neither direct nor indirect effects on offspring's lung function. Fathers' overweight starting before puberty appears to cause lower FEV1 and FVC in their future sons. The effects were partly mediated through sons' adult height but not through sons' prepubertal overweight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Lønnebotn
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway; (A.J.); (J.K.); (C.S.)
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +47-9596-8484
| | - Lucia Calciano
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.C.); (S.A.)
| | - Ane Johannessen
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway; (A.J.); (J.K.); (C.S.)
| | - Deborah L. Jarvis
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK;
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Michael J. Abramson
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
| | | | - Lennart Bråbäck
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Karl A. Franklin
- The Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Surgery, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeaa, Sweden;
| | - Raúl Godoy
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Complex of Albacete, University of Castilla La Mancha, 02008 Albacete, Spain;
| | - Mathias Holm
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Christer Janson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Nils O. Jõgi
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; (N.O.J.); (F.G.R.)
| | - Jorunn Kirkeleit
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway; (A.J.); (J.K.); (C.S.)
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Andrei Malinovschi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Antonio Pereira-Vega
- Pneumology Service, Juan Ramón Jiménez University Hospital in Huelva, 21005 Huelva, Spain;
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark;
- National Research Center for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shyamali C. Dharmage
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Simone Accordini
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.C.); (S.A.)
| | - Francisco Gómez Real
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; (N.O.J.); (F.G.R.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5053 Bergen, Norway
| | - Cecilie Svanes
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway; (A.J.); (J.K.); (C.S.)
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
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17
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Sperm Histone H3 Lysine 4 tri-methylation serves as a metabolic sensor of paternal obesity and is associated with the inheritance of metabolic dysfunction. Mol Metab 2022; 59:101463. [PMID: 35183795 PMCID: PMC8931445 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Parental environmental exposures can strongly influence descendant risks for adult disease. How paternal obesity changes the sperm chromatin leading to the acquisition of metabolic disease in offspring remains controversial and ill-defined. The objective of this study was to assess (1) whether obesity induced by a high-fat diet alters sperm histone methylation; (2) whether paternal obesity can induce metabolic disturbances across generations; (3) whether there could be cumulative damage to the sperm epigenome leading to enhanced metabolic dysfunction in descendants; and (4) whether obesity-sensitive regions associate with embryonic epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles. Using a genetic mouse model of epigenetic inheritance, we investigated the role of histone H3 lysine 4 methylation (H3K4me3) in the paternal transmission of metabolic dysfunction. This transgenic mouse overexpresses the histone demethylase enzyme KDM1A in the developing germline and has an altered sperm epigenome at the level of histone H3K4 methylation. We hypothesized that challenging transgenic sires with a high-fat diet would further erode the sperm epigenome and lead to enhanced metabolic disturbances in the next generations. Methods To assess whether paternal obesity can have inter- or transgenerational impacts, and if so to identify potential mechanisms of this non-genetic inheritance, we used wild-type C57BL/6NCrl and transgenic males with a pre-existing altered sperm epigenome. To induce obesity, sires were fed either a control or high-fat diet (10% or 60% kcal fat, respectively) for 10–12 weeks, then bred to wild-type C57BL/6NCrl females fed a regular diet. F1 and F2 descendants were characterized for metabolic phenotypes by examining the effects of paternal obesity by sex, on body weight, fat mass distribution, the liver transcriptome, intraperitoneal glucose, and insulin tolerance tests. To determine whether obesity altered the F0 sperm chromatin, native chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing targeting H3K4me3 was performed. To gain insight into mechanisms of paternal transmission, we compared our sperm H3K4me3 profiles with embryonic and placental chromatin states, histone modification, and gene expression profiles. Results Obesity-induced alterations in H3K4me3 occurred in genes implicated in metabolic, inflammatory, and developmental processes. These processes were associated with offspring metabolic dysfunction and corresponded to genes enriched for H3K4me3 in embryos and overlapped embryonic and placenta gene expression profiles. Transgenerational susceptibility to metabolic disease was only observed when obese F0 had a pre-existing modified sperm epigenome. This coincided with increased H3K4me3 alterations in sperm and more severe phenotypes affecting their offspring. Conclusions Our data suggest sperm H3K4me3 might serve as a metabolic sensor that connects paternal diet with offspring phenotypes via the placenta. This non-DNA-based knowledge of inheritance has the potential to improve our understanding of how environment shapes heritability and may lead to novel routes for the prevention of disease. This study highlights the need to further study the connection between the sperm epigenome, placental development, and children's health. Summary sentence Paternal obesity impacts sperm H3K4me3 and is associated with placenta, embryonic and metabolic outcomes in descendants. Sperm H3K4me3 serves as a metabolic sensor of HFD-induced obesity. Obesity-altered sperm H3K4me3 corresponds to embryonic transcription and chromatin profiles. HFD- and KDM1A-induced cumulative sperm epimutations enhanced F1 metabolic dysfunction. Sperm epimutations may influence placenta function inducing F1 metabolic phenotypes.
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18
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Effects of paternal overnutrition and interventions on future generations. Int J Obes (Lond) 2022; 46:901-917. [PMID: 35022547 PMCID: PMC9050512 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-021-01042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades, evidence from human and animal studies suggests that paternal obesity around the time of conception can have adverse effects on offspring health through developmental programming. This may make significant contributions to the current epidemic of obesity and related metabolic and reproductive complications like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and subfertility/infertility. To date, changes in seminal fluid composition, sperm DNA methylation, histone composition, small non-coding RNAs, and sperm DNA damage have been proposed as potential underpinning mechanism to program offspring health. In this review, we discuss current human and rodent evidence on the impact of paternal obesity/overnutrition on offspring health, followed by the proposed mechanisms, with a focus on sperm DNA damage underpinning paternal programming. We also summarize the different intervention strategies implemented to minimize effects of paternal obesity. Upon critical review of literature, we find that obesity-induced altered sperm quality in father is linked with compromised offspring health. Paternal exercise intervention before conception has been shown to improve metabolic health. Further work to explore the mechanisms underlying benefits of paternal exercise on offspring are warranted. Conversion to healthy diets and micronutrient supplementation during pre-conception have shown some positive impacts towards minimizing the impact of paternal obesity on offspring. Pharmacological approaches e.g., metformin are also being applied. Thus, interventions in the obese father may ameliorate the potential detrimental impacts of paternal obesity on offspring.
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Costa J, Mackay R, de Aguiar Greca SC, Corti A, Silva E, Karteris E, Ahluwalia A. The Role of the 3Rs for Understanding and Modeling the Human Placenta. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10153444. [PMID: 34362227 PMCID: PMC8347836 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10153444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Modeling the physiology of the human placenta is still a challenge, despite the great number of scientific advancements made in the field. Animal models cannot fully replicate the structure and function of the human placenta and pose ethical and financial hurdles. In addition, increasingly stricter animal welfare legislation worldwide is incentivizing the use of 3R (reduction, refinement, replacement) practices. What efforts have been made to develop alternative models for the placenta so far? How effective are they? How can we improve them to make them more predictive of human pathophysiology? To address these questions, this review aims at presenting and discussing the current models used to study phenomena at the placenta level: in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro and in silico. We describe the main achievements and opportunities for improvement of each type of model and critically assess their individual and collective impact on the pursuit of predictive studies of the placenta in line with the 3Rs and European legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Costa
- Centro di Ricerca E.Piaggio, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (J.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Ruth Mackay
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
| | | | - Alessandro Corti
- Centro di Ricerca E.Piaggio, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (J.C.); (A.C.)
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisabete Silva
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK; (S.-C.d.A.G.); (E.S.); (E.K.)
| | - Emmanouil Karteris
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK; (S.-C.d.A.G.); (E.S.); (E.K.)
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- Centro di Ricerca E.Piaggio, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (J.C.); (A.C.)
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
- Interuniversity Centro for the Promotion of 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro3R), Italy
- Correspondence:
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20
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Eyolfson E, Bhatt D, Wang M, Lohman AW, Mychasiuk R. Paternal exposure to exercise and/or caffeine and alcohol modify offspring behavioral and pathophysiological recovery from repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in adolescence. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:egbb12736. [PMID: 33876557 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Only recently has the scope of parental research expanded to include the paternal sphere with epidemiological studies implicating stress, nutrition and alcohol consumption in the neurobiological and behavioral characteristics of offspring. This study was designed to determine if paternal exposure to caffeine, alcohol and exercise prior to conception would improve or exacerbate offspring recovery from adolescent repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (RmTBI). Sires received 7 weeks of standard drinking water, or caffeine and ethanol and were housed in regular cages or cages with running wheels, prior to being mated to control females. At postnatal day 40, offspring were administered RmTBI or sham injuries and were assessed for post concussive symptomology. Post-mortem quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess gene expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and changes in telomere length. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA's) were run on serum to detect levels of cytokines, chemokines and sex hormones. Paternal experience did not improve or exacerbate RmTBI behavioral outcomes. However, female and male offspring displayed unique responses to RmTBI and paternal experience, resulting in changes in physical, behavioral and molecular outcomes. Injury and paternal exercise modified changes in female offspring, whereas male offspring were affected by paternal exercise, caffeine and alcohol treatment. Additionally, paternal experience and RmTBI modified expression of many genes in the PFC, NAc, telomere length and levels of sex hormones. Although further exploration is required to understand the heterogeneity that exists in disease risk and resiliency, this study provides corroborating evidence that paternal experiences prior to conception influences offspring development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Eyolfson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dhyey Bhatt
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Melinda Wang
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexander W Lohman
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Sundrani DP, Karkhanis AR, Joshi SR. Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR), fatty acids and microRNAs: Implications in women delivering low birth weight babies. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2021; 67:24-41. [PMID: 33719831 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2020.1858994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) babies are associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality and are at increased risk for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in later life. However, the molecular determinants of LBW are not well understood. Placental insufficiency/dysfunction is the most frequent etiology for fetal growth restriction resulting in LBW and placental epigenetic processes are suggested to be important regulators of pregnancy outcome. Early life exposures like altered maternal nutrition may have long-lasting effects on the health of the offspring via epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation and microRNA (miRNA) regulation. miRNAs have been recognized as major regulators of gene expression and are known to play an important role in placental development. Angiogenesis in the placenta is known to be regulated by transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) which is activated by ligands such as long-chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). In vitro studies in different cell types indicate that fatty acids can influence epigenetic mechanisms like miRNA regulation. We hypothesize that maternal fatty acid status may influence the miRNA regulation of PPAR genes in the placenta in women delivering LBW babies. This review provides an overview of miRNAs and their regulation of PPAR gene in the placenta of women delivering LBW babies.Abbreviations: AA - Arachidonic Acid; Ago2 - Argonaute2; ALA - Alpha-Linolenic Acid; ANGPTL4 - Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4; C14MC - Chromosome 14 miRNA Cluster; C19MC - Chromosome 19 miRNA Cluster; CLA - Conjugated Linoleic Acid; CSE - Cystathionine γ-Lyase; DHA - Docosahexaenoic Acid; EFA - Essential Fatty Acids; E2F3 - E2F transcription factor 3; EPA - Eicosapentaenoic Acid; FGFR1 - Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1; GDM - Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; hADMSCs - Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells; hBMSCs - Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells; HBV - Hepatitis B Virus; HCC - Hepatocellular Carcinoma; HCPT - Hydroxycamptothecin; HFD - High-Fat Diet; Hmads - Human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem; HSCS - Human Hepatic Stellate Cells; IUGR - Intrauterine Growth Restriction; LA - Linoleic Acid; LBW - Low Birth Weight; LCPUFA - Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids; MEK1 - Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; MiRNA - MicroRNA; mTOR - Mammalian Target of Rapamycin; NCDs - NonCommunicable Diseases; OA - Oleic Acid; PASMC - Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell; PLAG1 - Pleiomorphic Adenoma Gene 1; PPAR - Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor; PPARα - PPAR alpha; PPARγ - PPAR gamma; PPARδ - PPAR delta; pre-miRNA - precursor miRNA; RISC - RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; ROS - Reactive Oxygen Species; SAT - Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue; WHO - World Health Organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepali P Sundrani
- Mother and Child Health, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India
| | - Aishwarya R Karkhanis
- Mother and Child Health, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India
| | - Sadhana R Joshi
- Mother and Child Health, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India
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22
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Traccis F, Serra V, Sagheddu C, Congiu M, Saba P, Giua G, Devoto P, Frau R, Cheer JF, Melis M. Prenatal THC Does Not Affect Female Mesolimbic Dopaminergic System in Preadolescent Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041666. [PMID: 33562259 PMCID: PMC7914408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis use among pregnant women is increasing worldwide along with permissive sociocultural attitudes toward it. Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE), however, is associated with adverse outcome among offspring, ranging from reduced birth weight to child psychopathology. We have previously shown that male rat offspring prenatally exposed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a rat model of PCE, exhibit extensive molecular, cellular, and synaptic changes in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), resulting in a susceptible mesolimbic dopamine system associated with a psychotic-like endophenotype. This phenotype only reveals itself upon a single exposure to THC in males but not females. Here, we characterized the impact of PCE on female behaviors and mesolimbic dopamine system function by combining in vivo single-unit extracellular recordings in anesthetized animals and ex vivo patch clamp recordings, along with neurochemical and behavioral analyses. We find that PCE female offspring do not show any spontaneous or THC-induced behavioral disease-relevant phenotypes. The THC-induced increase in dopamine levels in nucleus accumbens was reduced in PCE female offspring, even when VTA dopamine activity in vivo and ex vivo did not differ compared to control. These findings indicate that PCE impacts mesolimbic dopamine function and its related behavioral domains in a sex-dependent manner and warrant further investigations to decipher the mechanisms determining this sex-related protective effect from intrauterine THC exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Traccis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Valeria Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Mauro Congiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Pierluigi Saba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Gabriele Giua
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Paola Devoto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Roberto Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
| | - Joseph Francois Cheer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (F.T.); (V.S.); (C.S.); (M.C.); (P.S.); (G.G.); (P.D.); (R.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-070-675-4322
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Morgan HL, Eid N, Khoshkerdar A, Watkins AJ. Defining the male contribution to embryo quality and offspring health in assisted reproduction in farm animals. Anim Reprod 2020; 17:e20200018. [PMID: 33029211 PMCID: PMC7534566 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2020-0018] [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] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination have delivered significant benefits for farm animal reproduction. However, as with humans, assisted reproduction in livestock requires the manipulation of the gametes and preimplantation embryo. The significance of this ‘periconception’ period is that it represents the transition from parental genome regulation to that of the newly formed embryo. Environmental perturbations during these early developmental stages can result in persistent changes in embryonic gene expression, fetal organ development and ultimately the long-term health of the offspring. While associations between maternal health and offspring wellbeing are well-defined, the significance of paternal health for the quality of his semen and the post-conception development of his offspring have largely been overlooked. Human and animal model studies have identified sperm epigenetic status (DNA methylation levels, histone modifications and RNA profiles) and seminal plasma-mediated maternal uterine immunological, inflammatory and vascular responses as the two central mechanisms capable of linking paternal health and post-fertilisation development. However, there is a significant knowledge gap about the father’s contribution to the long-term health of his offspring, especially with regard to farm animals. Such insights are essential to ensure the safety of widely used assisted reproductive practices and to gain better understanding of the role of paternal health for the well-being of his offspring. In this article, we will outline the impact of male health on semen quality (both sperm and seminal plasma), reproductive fitness and post-fertilisation offspring development and explore the mechanisms underlying the paternal programming of offspring health in farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Louise Morgan
- Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's Medical Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nader Eid
- Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's Medical Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Afsaneh Khoshkerdar
- Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's Medical Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Adam John Watkins
- Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's Medical Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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24
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da Cruz RS, Chen E, Smith M, Bates J, de Assis S. Diet and Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Breast Cancer: The Role of the Paternal Germline. Front Nutr 2020; 7:93. [PMID: 32760734 PMCID: PMC7373741 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade has made evident that in addition to passing their genetic material at conception, parents also transmit a molecular memory of past environmental experiences, including nutritional status, to their progeny through epigenetic mechanisms. In the 1990s, it was proposed that breast cancer originates in utero. Since then, an overwhelming number of studies in human cohorts and animal models have provided support for that hypothesis. It is becoming clear, however, that exposure in the parent generation can lead to multigenerational and transgenerational inheritance of breast cancer. Importantly, recent data from our lab and others show that pre-conception paternal diets reprogram the male germline and modulate breast cancer development in offspring. This review explores the emerging evidence for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of breast cancer focusing on studies associated with ancestral nutritional factors or related markers such as birth weight. We also explore paternal factors and the epigenetic mechanisms of inheritance through the male germline while also reviewing the existing literature on maternal exposures in pregnancy and its effects on subsequent generations. Finally, we discuss the importance of this mode of inheritance in the context of breast cancer prevention, the challenges, and outstanding research questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Santana da Cruz
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Elaine Chen
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Megan Smith
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jaedus Bates
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Sonia de Assis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
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25
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Claycombe-Larson KG, Bundy AN, Roemmich JN. Paternal high-fat diet and exercise regulate sperm miRNA and histone methylation to modify placental inflammation, nutrient transporter mRNA expression and fetal weight in a sex-dependent manner. J Nutr Biochem 2020; 81:108373. [PMID: 32422425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We previously have shown that male offspring (F1) of fathers (F0) fed a high-fat (HF) diet and that exercised had greater skeletal muscle insulin signaling and reduced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk compared to fathers fed HF diet and that remained sedentary. The current study extends this work by hypothesizing that F0 HF diet and exercise regulate F1 T2DM risk by alterations in placental tissue growth via changes in sperm miRNA expression. To test these hypotheses, 3-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal-fat diet (16% fat) or an HF diet (45% fat) and assigned to either voluntary wheel running exercise or cage activity for 3 months. Results showed that F0 sperm miRNA 193b expression was decreased while miRNA 204 was increased by paternal exercise. Protein expression of dimethylated histone 3 lysine 9 was decreased with F0 HF diet. Placental and fetal tissue weights were decreased by F0 HF diet in F1 males. Placental interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA expression was reduced by paternal exercise, while nutrient transporter mRNA expression was decreased by paternal HF diet only in the placentae of F1 females. Treatment of primary placental cell with miRNA 193b inhibited TNF-α mRNA expression, and treatment of TNF-α decreased SLC38a2 mRNA expression. Moreover, paternal exercise increased body weight at weaning in a female offspring. These results demonstrate that placental tissue weight, placental nutrient transporter gene expression and fetal weights are altered by paternal exercise, while placental inflammatory gene expression is influenced by paternal exercise in offspring in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate G Claycombe-Larson
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA.
| | - Amy N Bundy
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| | - James N Roemmich
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
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26
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Morgan HL, Watkins AJ. The influence of seminal plasma on offspring development and health. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 97:131-137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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27
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28
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Ding T, Mokshagundam S, Rinaudo PF, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Paternal developmental toxicant exposure is associated with epigenetic modulation of sperm and placental Pgr and Igf2 in a mouse model. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:864-876. [PMID: 29741588 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB), parturition prior to 37 weeks' gestation, is the leading cause of neonatal mortality. The causes of spontaneous PTB are poorly understood; however, recent studies suggest that this condition may arise as a consequence of the parental fetal environment. Specifically, we previously demonstrated that developmental exposure of male mice (F1 animals) to the environmental endocrine disruptor 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was associated with reduced sperm quantity/quality in adulthood and control female partners frequently delivered preterm. Reproductive defects persisted in the F2 and F3 descendants, and spontaneous PTB was common. Reproductive changes in the F3 males, the first generation without direct TCDD exposure, suggest the occurrence of epigenetic alterations in the sperm, which have the potential to impact placental development. Herein, we conducted an epigenetic microarray analysis of control and F1 male-derived placentae, which identified 2171 differentially methylated regions, including the progesterone receptor (Pgr) and insulin-like growth factor (Igf2). To assess if Pgr and Igf2 DNA methylation changes were present in sperm and persist in future generations, we assessed methylation and expression of these genes in F1/F3 sperm and F3-derived placentae. Although alterations in methylation and gene expression were observed, in most tissues, only Pgr reached statistical significance. Despite the modest gene expression changes in Igf2, offspring of F1 and F3 males consistently exhibited IUGR. Taken together, our data indicate that paternal developmental TCDD exposure is associated with transgenerational placental dysfunction, suggesting epigenetic modifications within the sperm have occurred. An evaluation of additional genes and alternative epigenetic mechanisms is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbing Ding
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shilpa Mokshagundam
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin G Osteen
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville Tennessee, USA
| | - Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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29
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Champagne FA. Interplay between paternal germline and maternal effects in shaping development: The overlooked importance of behavioural ecology. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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30
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Dupont C, Kappeler L, Saget S, Grandjean V, Lévy R. Role of miRNA in the Transmission of Metabolic Diseases Associated With Paternal Diet-Induced Obesity. Front Genet 2019; 10:337. [PMID: 31057600 PMCID: PMC6482346 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases (DOHaD) recognizes that an unfavorable maternal environment alters the developmental trajectory of the fetus and can lead to long-term risk of developing chronic noncommunicable diseases. More recently, the concept of a paternal transmission [Paternal Origins of Health and Diseases (POHaD)] has emerged stressing the impact of paternal overweight or obesity on offspring's health and development. While very few examples of paternal epigenetic inheritance of metabolic disorders have been evidenced in human, many experimental mouse models based on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced paternal obesity have been developed to breakdown molecular mechanisms involved in the process. Besides DNA methylation and chromatin structure, sperm short noncoding RNAs have been considered as the main epigenetic vector of inheritance of paternally environmentally induced changes. Among them, sperm miRNAs are one particular subspecies sensitive to environmental changes and obesity can modify the sperm miRNA profile. Once delivered into the zygote, these molecules might induce epigenetic modifications in the embryo, thereby leading to consequences for fetus development and offspring physical and metabolic health later on in life. Furthermore, some data also suggest that metabolic pathologies may be intergenerationally or transgenerationally transmitted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Dupont
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Service de biologie de la reproduction-CECOS, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Kappeler
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institute of Cardiometabolism, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Saget
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institute of Cardiometabolism, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Grandjean
- Inserm U1065, Team Control of Gene Expression (10), Université Cote d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Rachel Lévy
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche St-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Service de biologie de la reproduction-CECOS, Paris, France
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31
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Javurek AB, Spollen WG, Johnson SA, Bivens NJ, Bromert KH, Givan SA, Rosenfeld CS. Consumption of a high-fat diet alters the seminal fluid and gut microbiomes in male mice. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 29:1602-1612. [PMID: 27569192 DOI: 10.1071/rd16119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Our prior work showed that a novel microbiome resides in the seminal vesicles of wild-type and oestrogen receptor α (Esr1) knock-out mice and is impacted by the presence of functional Esr1 genes. The seminal fluid microbiome (SFM) may influence the health and reproductive status of the male, along with that of his partner and offspring. A high-fat diet (HFD) alters metabolites and other factors within seminal fluid and might affect the SFM. Adult (~15 weeks old) male mice were placed for 4 weeks on a control or high-fat diet and seminal fluid and fecal samples were collected, bacterial DNA isolated and subjected to 16s rRNA sequencing. Corynebacterium spp. were elevated in the seminal fluid of HFD males; however, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Streptophyta, Ammoniphilus spp., Bacillus spp. and Propionibacterium acnes were increased in control males. Rikenellaceae was more abundant in the fecal samples from HFD males. However, Bacteroides ovatus and another Bacteroides species, Bilophila, Sutterella spp., Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium longum, Akkermansia muciniphila and Desulfovibrio spp. were greater in control males. Thus, short-term consumption of a HFD influences the seminal fluid and fecal microbiomes, which may have important health consequence for males and developmental origins of health and disease effects in resulting offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela B Javurek
- Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William G Spollen
- Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Sarah A Johnson
- Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Nathan J Bivens
- DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Karen H Bromert
- DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Scott A Givan
- Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 E. Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Mao J, Pennington KA, Talton OO, Schulz LC, Sutovsky M, Lin Y, Sutovsky P. In Utero and Postnatal Exposure to High Fat, High Sucrose Diet Suppressed Testis Apoptosis and Reduced Sperm Count. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7622. [PMID: 29769570 PMCID: PMC5955896 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25950-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity affects male fertility and maternal diabetes affects the offspring sperm epigenome. However, the effects of in utero exposure to maternal glucose intolerance in combination with postnatal high fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet consumption on offspring spermatogenesis is not clear. The present study was designed to test these effects. One week before and during pregnancy, dams were fed either control or HFHS diet to induce gestational glucose intolerance, and returned to standard diet during lactation. Male offspring from each maternal group were split into control and HFHS-fed groups for eight weeks prior to sacrifice at 11, 19 or 31 weeks of age, and reproductive tissues were harvested for analysis of testicular germ cell apoptosis and sperm output. Postnatal HFHS diet suppressed spermatogonia apoptosis in all age groups and maternal HFHS diet reduced testosterone levels at 11 weeks. At 31 weeks of age, the postnatal HFHS diet increased body weight, and reduced epididymis weight and sperm count. The combination of in utero and postnatal exposure impacted sperm counts most significantly. In summary, HFHS diet during pregnancy puts male offspring at greater risk of infertility, particularly when combined with postnatal high fat diet feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiude Mao
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - Kathleen A Pennington
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Omonseigho O Talton
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Laura C Schulz
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Miriam Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistance, the Ministry of Nutrition of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625001, China
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharvari S. Deshpande
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Parel, Mumbai, India
| | - Nafisa H. Balasinor
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Parel, Mumbai, India
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Ding T, Lambert LA, Aronoff DM, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Sex-Dependent Influence of Developmental Toxicant Exposure on Group B Streptococcus-Mediated Preterm Birth in a Murine Model. Reprod Sci 2017; 25:662-673. [PMID: 29153057 DOI: 10.1177/1933719117741378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Infectious agents are a significant risk factor for preterm birth (PTB); however, the simple presence of bacteria is not sufficient to induce PTB in most women. Human and animal data suggest that environmental toxicant exposures may act in concert with other risk factors to promote PTB. Supporting this "second hit" hypothesis, we previously demonstrated exposure of fetal mice (F1 animals) to the environmental endocrine disruptor 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to an increased risk of spontaneous and infection-mediated PTB in adult animals. Surprisingly, adult F1males also confer an enhanced risk of PTB to their control partners. Herein, we used a recently established model of ascending group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection to explore the impact of a maternal versus paternal developmental TCDD exposure on infection-mediated PTB in adulthood. Group B Streptococcus is an important contributor to PTB in women and can have serious adverse effects on their infants. Our studies revealed that although gestation length was reduced in control mating pairs exposed to low-dose GBS, dams were able to clear the infection and bacterial transmission to pups was minimal. In contrast, exposure of pregnant F1females to the same GBS inoculum resulted in 100% maternal and fetal mortality. Maternal health and gestation length were not impacted in control females mated to F1males and exposed to GBS; however, neonatal survival was reduced compared to controls. Our data revealed a sex-dependent impact of parental TCDD exposure on placental expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and glycogen production, which may be responsible for the differential impact on fetal and maternal outcomes in response to GBS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbing Ding
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren A Lambert
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David M Aronoff
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kevin G Osteen
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,3 Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.,4 VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Raad G, Hazzouri M, Bottini S, Trabucchi M, Azoury J, Grandjean V. Paternal obesity: how bad is it for sperm quality and progeny health? Basic Clin Androl 2017; 27:20. [PMID: 29123667 PMCID: PMC5657098 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-017-0064-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is substantial evidence that paternal obesity is associated not only with an increased incidence of infertility, but also with an increased risk of metabolic disturbance in adult offspring. Apparently, several mechanisms may contribute to the sperm quality alterations associated with paternal obesity, such as physiological/hormonal alterations, oxidative stress, and epigenetic alterations. Along these lines, modifications of hormonal profiles namely reduced androgen levels and elevated estrogen levels, were found associated with lower sperm concentration and seminal volume. Additionally, oxidative stress in testis may induce an increase of the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. The latter, relate to other peculiarities such as alteration of the embryonic development, increased risk of miscarriage, and development of chronic morbidity in the offspring, including childhood cancers. Undoubtedly, epigenetic alterations (ie, DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, and small RNA deregulation) of sperm related to paternal obesity and their consequences on the progeny are poorly understood determinants of paternal obesity-induced transmission. In this review, we summarize and discuss the data available in the literature regarding the biological, physiological, and molecular consequences of paternal obesity on male fertility potential and ultimately progeny health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Raad
- Azoury-IVF clinic, Mount Lebanon Hospital, 5th floor, Camille Chamoun bvd, Beirut, Lebanon.,Université Cote d'Azur, Inserm, C3M (team 10), Nice, France
| | - Mira Hazzouri
- Faculty of Sciences 2, Lebanese University, Fanar, Lebanon
| | - Silvia Bottini
- Université Cote d'Azur, Inserm, C3M (team 10), Nice, France
| | | | - Joseph Azoury
- Azoury-IVF clinic, Mount Lebanon Hospital, 5th floor, Camille Chamoun bvd, Beirut, Lebanon
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Hehar H, Ma I, Mychasiuk R. Intergenerational Transmission of Paternal Epigenetic Marks: Mechanisms Influencing Susceptibility to Post-Concussion Symptomology in a Rodent Model. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7171. [PMID: 28769086 PMCID: PMC5541091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07784-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic transmission of phenotypic variance has been linked to paternal experiences prior to conception and during perinatal development. Previous reports indicate that paternal experiences increase phenotypic heterogeneity and may contribute to offspring susceptibility to post-concussive symptomology. This study sought to determine if epigenetic tags, specifically DNA methylation of promoter regions, are transmitted from rodent fathers to their sons. Using MethyLight, promoter methylation of specific genes involved in recovery from concussion and brain plasticity were analyzed in sperm and brain tissue. Promoter methylation in sperm differed based on paternal experience. Differences in methylation were often identified in both the sperm and brain tissue obtained from their sons, demonstrating transmission of epigenetic tags. For certain genes, methylation in the sperm was altered following a concussion suggesting that a history of brain injury may influence paternal transmission of traits. As telomere length is paternally inherited and linked to neurological health, this study examined paternally derived differences in telomere length, in both sperm and brain. Telomere length was consistent between fathers and their sons, and between brain and sperm, with the exception of the older fathers. Older fathers exhibited increased sperm telomere length, which was not evident in sperm or brain of their sons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harleen Hehar
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Department of Psychology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Irene Ma
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Department of Psychology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Department of Psychology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Martins FF, Aguila MB, Mandarim-de-Lacerda CA. Impaired steroidogenesis in the testis of leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob -/-). Acta Histochem 2017; 119:508-515. [PMID: 28506466 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The obesity and its comorbidities, including resistance to leptin, impacts the reproductive function. Testes express leptin receptors in the germ cells and Leydig cells. Then, leptin-deficient animals are obese and infertile. We aimed to evaluate the structure and steroidogenic pathway of the testis of deficient leptin mice. Three months old male C57BL/6 mice (wild-type, WT) and deficient leptin (ob/ob) mice had their testes dissected and prepared for analyses. Compared to the WT group, the ob/ob group showed a greater body mass with smaller testes, and alterations in the germinative epithelium: fewer spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids. The Sertoli cells and the germ cells showed condensed nuclei and nuclear fragmentation indicating cell death, in agreement with a low expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen and a high expression of Caspase3. In the ob/ob group, the sperm was absent in the seminiferous tubules, and the steroidogenic pathway was compromised (low 3Beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein). Further, all hormone receptors involved in the testicular function were down expressed (androgen, estrogen, follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, aromatase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). In conclusion, the findings indicate significant morphological, hormonal and enzymatic changes in the testis of the ob/ob mice. The shifts in the enzymatic steroidogenic pathway and the enzymes related to spermatic activity support the insights about the failures in the fertility of these animals. The study provides new evidence and contributes to the understanding of how the lack of leptin and obesity might negatively modulate the testicular function leading to infertility.
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Paternal low protein diet programs preimplantation embryo gene expression, fetal growth and skeletal development in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1863:1371-1381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Father’s obesity programs the adipose tissue in the offspring via the local renin–angiotensin system and MAPKs pathways, especially in adult male mice. Eur J Nutr 2017; 57:1901-1912. [DOI: 10.1007/s00394-017-1473-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Mitchell M, Strick R, Strissel PL, Dittrich R, McPherson NO, Lane M, Pliushch G, Potabattula R, Haaf T, El Hajj N. Gene expression and epigenetic aberrations in F1-placentas fathered by obese males. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:316-328. [PMID: 28186371 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression and/or epigenetic deregulation may have consequences for sperm and blastocysts, as well as for the placenta, together potentially contributing to problems observed in offspring. We previously demonstrated specific perturbations of fertilization, blastocyst formation, implantation, as well as aberrant glucose metabolism and adiposity in offspring using a mouse model of paternal obesity. The current investigation analyzed gene expression and methylation of specific CpG residues in F1 placentas of pregnancies fathered by obese and normal-weight male mice, using real-time PCR and bisulfite pyrosequencing. Our aim was to determine if paternal obesity deregulated placental gene expression and DNA methylation when compared to normal-weight males. Gene methylation of sperm DNA was analyzed and compared to placentas to address epigenetic transmission. Of the 10 paternally expressed genes (Pegs), 11 genes important for development and transport of nutrients, and the long-terminal repeat Intracisternal A particle (IAP) elements, derived from a member of the class II endogenous retroviral gene family, we observed a significant effect of paternal diet-induced obesity on deregulated expression of Peg3, Peg9, Peg10, and the nutrient transporter gene Slc38a2, and aberrant DNA methylation of the Peg9 promoter in F1 placental tissue. Epigenetic changes in Peg9 were also found in sperm from obese fathers. We therefore propose that paternal obesity renders changes in gene expression and/or methylation throughout the placental genome, which could contribute to the reproductive problems related to fertility and to the metabolic, long-term health impact on offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Universitaetsstrasse, Erlangen, Germany.,School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Reiner Strick
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Universitaetsstrasse, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pamela L Strissel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Universitaetsstrasse, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ralf Dittrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Universitaetsstrasse, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole O McPherson
- School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Michelle Lane
- School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Repromed, Dulwich, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Galyna Pliushch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximillians University, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ramya Potabattula
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximillians University, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximillians University, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nady El Hajj
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximillians University, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
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An Exercise-Only Intervention in Obese Fathers Restores Glucose and Insulin Regulation in Conjunction with the Rescue of Pancreatic Islet Cell Morphology and MicroRNA Expression in Male Offspring. Nutrients 2017; 9:nu9020122. [PMID: 28208792 PMCID: PMC5331553 DOI: 10.3390/nu9020122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Paternal obesity programs metabolic syndrome in offspring. Low-impact exercise in obese males improves the metabolic health of female offspring, however whether this occurred in male offspring remained unknown. C57BL/6NHsd (Harlan) mice were fed a control diet (CD; 6% fat, n = 7) or a high-fat diet (HFD; 21% fat, n = 16) for 18 weeks. After 9 weeks, HFD-fed mice either remained sedentary (HH, n = 8) or undertook low–moderate exercise (HE, n = 8) for another 9 weeks. Male offspring were assessed for glucose/insulin tolerance, body composition, plasma lipids, pancreatic islet cell morphology and microRNA expression. Founder HH induced glucose intolerance, insulin insensitivity, and hyperlipidaemia in male offspring (p < 0.05). Metabolic health was fully restored in male offspring by founder exercise to control levels. Founder HH reduced pancreatic β-cell area and islet cell size in male offspring, and altered the expression of 13 pancreatic microRNAs (p < 0.05). Founder HE led to partial restoration of pancreatic islet cell morphology and the expression of two pancreatic microRNAs (let7d-5p, 194-5p) in male offspring. Founder HE reduced male offspring adiposity, increased muscle mass, reduced plasma free fatty acids (FFAs), and further altered pancreatic microRNAs (35 vs. HH; 32 vs. CD) (p < 0.05). Low-impact exercise in obese fathers prior to conception, without dietary change, may be a viable intervention strategy to reduce the ill-effects of obesity-induced paternal programming in male offspring.
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Yeung EH, Sundaram R, Ghassabian A, Xie Y, Buck Louis G. Parental Obesity and Early Childhood Development. Pediatrics 2017; 139:peds.2016-1459. [PMID: 28044047 PMCID: PMC5260147 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-1459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies identified associations between maternal obesity and childhood neurodevelopment, but few examined paternal obesity despite potentially distinct genetic/epigenetic effects related to developmental programming. METHODS Upstate KIDS (2008-2010) recruited mothers from New York State (excluding New York City) at ∼4 months postpartum. Parents completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) when their children were 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age corrected for gestation. The ASQ is validated to screen for delays in 5 developmental domains (ie, fine motor, gross motor, communication, personal-social functioning, and problem-solving ability). Analyses included 3759 singletons and 1062 nonrelated twins with ≥1 ASQs returned. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by using generalized linear mixed models accounting for maternal covariates (ie, age, race, education, insurance, marital status, parity, and pregnancy smoking). RESULTS Compared with normal/underweight mothers (BMI <25), children of obese mothers (26% with BMI ≥30) had increased odds of failing the fine motor domain (aOR 1.67; confidence interval 1.12-2.47). The association remained after additional adjustment for paternal BMI (1.67; 1.11-2.52). Paternal obesity (29%) was associated with increased risk of failing the personal-social domain (1.75; 1.13-2.71), albeit attenuated after adjustment for maternal obesity (aOR 1.71; 1.08-2.70). Children whose parents both had BMI ≥35 were likely to additionally fail the problem-solving domain (2.93; 1.09-7.85). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that maternal and paternal obesity are each associated with specific delays in early childhood development, emphasizing the importance of family information when screening child development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Germaine Buck Louis
- Office of the Director, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Rockville, Maryland
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Gómez E, Muñoz M, Simó C, Ibáñez C, Carrocera S, Martín-González D, Cifuentes A. Non-invasive metabolomics for improved determination of embryonic sex markers in chemically defined culture medium. J Chromatogr A 2016; 1474:138-144. [PMID: 27823786 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2016.10.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic differences between early male and female embryos can be reflected in culture medium (CM). We used a single bovine embryo culture step (24h) supporting improved birth rates under chemically defined conditions (CDC) to investigate biomarker detection of embryonic sex in contrast to classical BSA-containing medium. In vitro matured slaughterhouse oocytes were fertilized in vitro with a single bull. Embryos were initially cultured in synthetic oviduct fluid with BSA. On day-6, morulae were cultured individually in droplets with (BSA) or without protein (CDC). On day-7, expanded blastocysts were sexed (amelogenin gene amplification) and CM was stored at -145°C until metabolomic analysis by UHPLC-TOF MS. N=10 embryos per group (i.e. male-protein; female-protein; male-non-protein; female-non-protein) were produced. Statistical analysis revealed N=6 metabolites with different concentrations in CM, N=5 in male embryos (methionine, tryptophan, N-stearoyl-valine, biotin and pipecolic acid), N=1 in female embryos (threonine) (P<0.05 in BSA; P<10-7 in CDC). Only the clear threshold between males and females in CDC allowed correct classification of 100% males and 91% females within 5 out of 6 biomarkers (one female outlier showing the male biomarker profile). The use of CDC represents a critical aspect in the efficient detection of embryonic sex biomarkers by metabolomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Gómez
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Área de Genética y Reproducción Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain, Spain
| | - M Muñoz
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Área de Genética y Reproducción Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain, Spain.
| | - C Simó
- Foodomics Lab & Metabolomics Platform, CIAL, CSIC, Nicolas Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - C Ibáñez
- Foodomics Lab & Metabolomics Platform, CIAL, CSIC, Nicolas Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - S Carrocera
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Área de Genética y Reproducción Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain, Spain
| | - D Martín-González
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Área de Genética y Reproducción Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain, Spain
| | - A Cifuentes
- Foodomics Lab & Metabolomics Platform, CIAL, CSIC, Nicolas Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Effects of a maternal high-fat diet on offspring behavioral and metabolic parameters in a rodent model. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2016; 8:75-88. [DOI: 10.1017/s2040174416000490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Maternal diet-induced obesity can cause detrimental developmental origins of health and disease in offspring. Perinatal exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) can lead to later behavioral and metabolic disturbances, but it is not clear which behaviors and metabolic parameters are most vulnerable. To address this critical gap, biparental and monogamous oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus), which may better replicate most human societies, were used in the current study. About 2 weeks before breeding, adult females were placed on a control or HFD and maintained on the diets throughout gestation and lactation. F1 offspring were placed at weaning (30 days of age) on the control diet and spatial learning and memory, anxiety, exploratory, voluntary physical activity, and metabolic parameters were tested when they reached adulthood (90 days of age). Surprisingly, maternal HFD caused decreased latency in initial and reverse Barnes maze trials in male, but not female, offspring. Both male and female HFD-fed offspring showed increased anxiogenic behaviors, but decreased exploratory and voluntary physical activity. Moreover, HFD offspring demonstrated lower resting energy expenditure (EE) compared with controls. Accordingly, HFD offspring weighed more at adulthood than those from control fed dams, likely the result of reduced physical activity and EE. Current findings indicate a maternal HFD may increase obesity susceptibility in offspring due to prenatal programming resulting in reduced physical activity and EE later in life. Further work is needed to determine the underpinning neural and metabolic mechanisms by which a maternal HFD adversely affects neurobehavioral and metabolic pathways in offspring.
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Lendvai Á, Deutsch MJ, Plösch T, Ensenauer R. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors under epigenetic control in placental metabolism and fetal development. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2016; 310:E797-810. [PMID: 26860983 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00372.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The placental metabolism can adapt to the environment throughout pregnancy to both the demands of the fetus and the signals from the mother. Such adaption processes include epigenetic mechanisms, which alter gene expression and may influence the offspring's health. These mechanisms are linked to the diversity of prenatal environmental exposures, including maternal under- or overnutrition or gestational diabetes. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors that contribute to the developmental plasticity of the placenta by regulating lipid and glucose metabolism pathways, including lipogenesis, steroidogenesis, glucose transporters, and placental signaling pathways, thus representing a link between energy metabolism and reproduction. Among the PPAR isoforms, PPARγ appears to be the main modulator of mammalian placentation. Certain fatty acids and lipid-derived moieties are the natural activating PPAR ligands. By controlling the amounts of maternal nutrients that go across to the fetus, the PPARs play an important regulatory role in placenta metabolism, thereby adapting to the maternal nutritional status. As demonstrated in animal studies, maternal nutrition during gestation can exert long-term influences on the PPAR methylation pattern in offspring organs. This review underlines the current state of knowledge on the relationship between environmental factors and the epigenetic regulation of the PPARs in placenta metabolism and offspring development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágnes Lendvai
- Center for Liver, Digestive, and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Manuel J Deutsch
- Research Center, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Torsten Plösch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Regina Ensenauer
- Research Center, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Experimental Pediatrics, Department of General Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, and Neonatology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
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Soubry A, Guo L, Huang Z, Hoyo C, Romanus S, Price T, Murphy SK. Obesity-related DNA methylation at imprinted genes in human sperm: Results from the TIEGER study. Clin Epigenetics 2016; 8:51. [PMID: 27158277 PMCID: PMC4859994 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0217-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic reprogramming in mammalian gametes resets methylation marks that regulate monoallelic expression of imprinted genes. In males, this involves erasure of the maternal methylation marks and establishment of paternal-specific methylation to appropriately guide normal development. The degree to which exogenous factors influence the fidelity of methylation reprogramming is unknown. We previously found an association between paternal obesity and altered DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood, suggesting that the father's endocrine, nutritional, or lifestyle status could potentiate intergenerational heritable epigenetic abnormalities. In these analyses, we examine the relationship between male overweight/obesity and DNA methylation status of imprinted gene regulatory regions in the gametes. METHODS Linear regression models were used to compare sperm DNA methylation percentages, quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing, at 12 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) from 23 overweight/obese and 44 normal weight men. Our study population included 69 volunteers from The Influence of the Environment on Gametic Epigenetic Reprogramming (TIEGER) study, based in NC, USA. RESULTS After adjusting for age and fertility patient status, semen from overweight or obese men had significantly lower methylation percentages at the MEG3 (β = -1.99; SE = 0.84; p = 0.02), NDN (β = -1.10; SE = 0.47; p = 0.02), SNRPN (β = -0.65; SE = 0.27; p = 0.02), and SGCE/PEG10 (β = -2.5; SE = 1.01; p = 0.01) DMRs. Our data further suggest a slight increase in DNA methylation at the MEG3-IG DMR (β = +1.22; SE = 0.59; p = 0.04) and H19 DMR (β = +1.37; SE = 0.62; p = 0.03) in sperm of overweight/obese men. CONCLUSIONS Our data support that male overweight/obesity status is traceable in the sperm epigenome. Further research is needed to understand the effect of such changes and the point of origin of DNA methylation differences between lean and overweight/obese men. Together with our earlier reports on paternal obesity and epigenetic shifts in the offspring, our studies set the groundwork for future studies investigating male gametic methylation aberrations due to paternal lifestyle factors such as obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelheid Soubry
- />Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lisa Guo
- />Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Zhiqing Huang
- />Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- />Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27633 USA
| | - Stephanie Romanus
- />Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven University, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Price
- />Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27713 USA
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- />Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708 USA
- />Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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Panchenko PE, Lemaire M, Fneich S, Voisin S, Jouin M, Junien C, Gabory A. [Epigenetics and Nutrition: maternal nutrition impacts on placental development and health of offspring]. Biol Aujourdhui 2015; 209:175-87. [PMID: 26514387 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2015021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The environment, defined broadly by all that is external to the individual, conditions the phenotype during development, particularly the susceptibility to develop non-communicable diseases. This notion, called Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), is based on numerous epidemiological studies as well as animal models. Thus, parental nutrition and obesity can predispose the offspring to develop metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The known underlying mechanisms include an altered development of tissues that adapt to maternal metabolic condition, and a placental dysfunction, which in turn impacts fetal growth and development. Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence itself. The main epigenetic marks are DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications. These marks are erased and set-up during gametogenesis and development in order to ensure cellular identity. Therefore, they can lead to a memorisation of early environment and induce long-term alteration of cell and tissue functions, which will condition the susceptibility to non-communicable diseases. The placenta is a programming agent of adult disease. The environment, such as smoking or psychosocial stress, is able to modify epigenetic processes in placenta, such as small RNA expression and DNA methylation. We showed that placenta is sensitive to maternal obesity and maternal nutrition, in terms of histology, transcription and epigenetic marks. A clear sexual dimorphism is remarkable in the placental response to maternal environment. In adulthood, the phenotype is also different between males and females. Epigenetic mechanisms could underlie this differential response of males and females to the same environment. The DOHaD can no longer be ignored in Biology of Reproduction. The prevention of non-communicable diseases must take this new paradigm into account. Research will allow a better comprehension of the mechanisms of this early conditioning and the marked sexual dimorphism it is associated to.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina E Panchenko
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marion Lemaire
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sara Fneich
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sarah Voisin
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Jouin
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Claudine Junien
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Anne Gabory
- INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Januar V, Desoye G, Novakovic B, Cvitic S, Saffery R. Epigenetic regulation of human placental function and pregnancy outcome: considerations for causal inference. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 213:S182-96. [PMID: 26428498 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms, often defined as regulating gene activity independently of underlying DNA sequence, are crucial for healthy development. The sum total of epigenetic marks within a cell or tissue (the epigenome) is sensitive to environmental influence, and disruption of the epigenome in utero has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Not surprisingly, given its multifaceted functions and important role in regulating pregnancy outcome, the placenta shows unique epigenetic features. Interestingly however, many of these are only otherwise seen in human malignancy (the pseudomalignant placental epigenome). Epigenetic variation in the placenta is now emerging as a candidate mediator of environmental influence on placental functioning and a key regulator of pregnancy outcome. However, replication of findings is generally lacking, most likely due to small sample sizes and a lack of standardization of analytical approaches. Defining DNA methylation "signatures" in the placenta associated with maternal and fetal outcomes offers tremendous potential to improve pregnancy outcomes, but care must be taken in interpretation of findings. Future placental epigenetic research would do well to address the issues present in epigenetic epidemiology more generally, including careful consideration of sample size, potentially confounding factors, issues of tissue heterogeneity, reverse causation, and the role of genetics in modulating epigenetic profile. The importance of animal or in vitro models in establishing a functional role of epigenetic variation identified in human beings, which is key to establishing causation, should not be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vania Januar
- Cancer and Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gernot Desoye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Boris Novakovic
- Cancer and Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - Silvija Cvitic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Richard Saffery
- Cancer and Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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Abstract
The placenta is an ephemeral but critical organ for the survival of all eutherian mammals and marsupials. It is the primary messenger system between the mother and fetus, where communicational signals, nutrients, waste, gases, and extrinsic factors are exchanged. Although the placenta may buffer the fetus from various environmental insults, placental dysfunction might also contribute to detrimental developmental origins of adult health and disease effects. The placenta of one sex over the other might possess greater ability to respond and buffer against environmental insults. Given the potential role of the placenta in effecting the lifetime health of the offspring, it is not surprising that there has been a resurging interest in this organ, including the Human Placental Project launched by the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development. In this review, we will compare embryological development of the laboratory mouse and human chorioallantoic placentae. Next, evidence that various species, including humans, exhibit normal sex-dependent structural and functional placental differences will be examined followed by how in utero environmental changes (nutritional state, stress, and exposure to environmental chemicals) might interact with fetal sex to affect this organ. Recent data also suggest that paternal state impacts placental function in a sex-dependent manner. The research to date linking placental maladaptive responses and later developmental origins of adult health and disease effects will be explored. Finally, we will focus on how sex chromosomes and epimutations may contribute to sex-dependent differences in placental function, the unanswered questions, and future directions that warrant further consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Departments of Bond Life Sciences Center, Biomedical Sciences, Genetics Area Program, and Research Faculty Member for the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
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