Nutriepigenomics

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Nutriepigenomics is the study of food nutrients and their effects on human health through epigenetic modifications. There is now considerable evidence that nutritional imbalances during gestation and lactation are linked to non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. If metabolic disturbances occur during critical time windows of development, the resulting epigenetic alterations can lead to permanent changes in tissue and organ structure or function and predispose individuals to disease. [1]

Contents

Overview

Epigenetics relates to heritable changes in gene function that occur independently of alterations in primary DNA sequence. Two major epigenetic mechanisms implicated in nutriepigenomics are DNA methylation and histone modification. DNA methylation in gene promoter regions usually results in gene silencing and influences gene expression. While this form of gene silencing is extremely important in development and cellular differentiation, aberrant DNA methylation can be detrimental and has been linked to various disease processes, such as cancer. [2] The methyl groups used in DNA methylation are often derived from dietary sources, such as folate and choline, and explains why diet can have a significant impact on methylation patterns and gene expression. [3] Gene silencing can also be reinforced through the recruitment of histone deacetylases to decrease transcriptional activation. Conversely, histone acetylation induces transcriptional activation to increase gene expression. Dietary components can influence these epigenetic events, thereby altering gene expression and disturbing functions such as appetite control, metabolic balance and fuel utilization. [1]

Various genetic sequences can be targeted for epigenetic modification. A transcriptome-wide analysis in mice found that a protein-restricted (PR) diet during gestation resulted in differential gene expression in approximately 1% of the fetal genes analyzed (235/22,690). Specifically, increased expression was seen in genes involved in the p53 pathway, apoptosis, negative regulators of cell metabolism, and genes related to epigenetic control. [4] Additional studies have investigated the effect of a PR-diet in rats and found changes in promoter methylation of both the glucocorticoid receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). [5] [6] Altered expression of these receptors can result in elevated blood glucose levels and affect lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. [3] Feeding a PR-diet to pregnant and/or lactating mice also increased expression of glucokinase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, PPARα, and acyl-CoA oxidase. [7] Changes in expression were reportedly due to epigenetic regulation of either the gene promoter itself, or promoters of transcription factors that regulate gene expression. Additional genes that have been shown, either by in vitro or in vivo studies, to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms include leptin, SOCS3, glucose transporter (GLUT)-4, POMC, 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and corticotrophin releasing hormone. Epigenetic modification of these genes may lead to “metabolic programming” of the fetus and result in long-term changes in metabolism and energy homeostasis. [8]

Nutriepigenomics and development

The period of development in which the nutritional imbalance occurs is very important in determining which disease-related genes will be affected. Different organs have critical developmental stages, and the time point at which they are compromised will predispose individuals to specific diseases. [9] Epigenetic modifications that occur during development may not be expressed until later in life depending on the function of the gene. [3] While the majority of studies implicate prenatal and perinatal periods as critical time windows, some research has shown that nutritional intake during adulthood can also affect the epigenome.

Prenatal

Developmental plasticity is the process in which fetuses adapt to their environment. Environmental cues, including dietary components, present in the in utero environment can induce significant changes in the expression of the genome through epigenetic modifications. [7] Fetal developmental plastic responses can cause changes in lean body mass, endocrinology, blood flow and vascular loading, and lead to increased risk of various diseases in adulthood.

Low birth weight

Fetal exposure to calcium, folate, magnesium, high or low protein, and zinc have all been associated with birth weight. [9] Numerous studies have investigated the link between birth weight and risk of disease and have found that low birth weight is significantly associated with coronary heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes. Most importantly, these associations occurred after adjusting for lifestyle factors, implying a genetic basis for onset of disease. [10] Impaired insulin secretion is associated with low birth weight and can lead to insulin resistance as babies accumulate body fat. [11] Studies using intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) rats have found that growth inhibition can lead to decreased expression of Pdx1 transcription factor, which is essential for differentiation and function of pancreatic beta cells. [12] Decreased histone acetylation at the proximal promoter of Pdx1 is responsible for reduced Pdx1 expression and subsequently results in a cascade of histone deacetylation and methylation events that can result in type-2 diabetes.

Development of type 2 diabetes following intrauterine growth retardation in rats is associated with progressive epigenetic silencing of Pdx1 Histones.jpg
Development of type 2 diabetes following intrauterine growth retardation in rats is associated with progressive epigenetic silencing of Pdx1

Obesity

Obesity during pregnancy and high-fat maternal diets both show strong associations with obesity in offspring. As the number of overweight reproductive-age women increases, the number of overweight children and infants also increases. [10] It has been postulated that maternal obesity causes an accumulation of fat in fetal adipose tissue (adiposity) and predisposes babies for obesity in childhood and adulthood. [10] Animal studies have shown that maternal overnutrition may impact brain development and cause disruptions to programming of the hypothalamus. Offspring that were exposed to a high-fat or high-caloric maternal diet had increased levels of insulin, glucose and leptin. It is hypothesized that these elevations are due to disturbances in the complex neuronal network that includes the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) pathways. [8] This altered neuronal signaling can consequently impact food-intake behavior and lead to diet-induced obesity in adulthood. While epigenetic modifications are most likely involved in the development of obesity, the specific target genes have yet to be identified. Genes involved in adipogenesis, such as fibroblast growth-factor-2, phosphatase and tensin homologue, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A and oestrogen receptor-alpha, possess multiple CpG islands in their promoter sites and may act as epigenetic targets. [13] Furthermore, it has been shown that prenatal exposure to a hypomethylating agent, such as bisphenol A (BPA), is associated with increased body weight and suggests modified DNA methylation as a mechanism for increasing susceptibility to obesity. [13]

Folate

It has long been realized that maternal folate intake during pregnancy is linked to fetal development and growth, and can reduce the risk of serious birth defects. Folate is a source of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), which is used to supply DNA methyltransferases with methyl groups. Therefore, changes in folate supply have a substantial effect on DNA methylation patterns. Low levels of folate are associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery, poor growth of the placenta and uterus, and intrauterine growth retardation. [3] Several complex diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and autism have also been linked to maternal folate status. Based on animal studies it has been hypothesized that reduced folate intake could increase the risk of neural tube defects by reducing the amount of methylayed DNA during cranial neural tube closure. [14] Recently it was discovered that folate protection from congenital heart defects is linked to epigenetics and Wnt signaling. Multiple environmental factors target the Wnt signaling pathway during embryogenesis and can cause misregulation of the pathway. Folic acid metabolism generates SAM, thereby altering the methylation states of histones H3K9, H3K4, and H3K27 and genetically altering Wnt signaling. [15]

Recently a double-blind placebo controlled trial of high dose Folinic Acid (Leucovorin Calcium) demonstrated efficacy at improving verbal communication in children with autism. [16]

Perinatal

Another critical developmental time window is the perinatal period, the time period immediately before and after birth. It has been shown that maternal diet in late pregnancy and an infant's diet in the beginning weeks can all have significant impacts on gene expression. Therefore, perinatal nutrition is both late-stage in utero nutrition and lactation.

Bone health

Bone mass and the development of osteoporosis have been studied in relation to perinatal nutrition. An important factor to consider when investigating perinatal nutrition is whether the baby was breast-fed or formula-fed. Studies have shown that breast-fed babies have increased bone mass compared to those were not breast-fed, and that this small increase in bone mass during a period of critical development could potentially program the skeleton to continue along a “healthy” growth trajectory. [17] It has also been shown that maternal vitamin D insufficiency during late pregnancy is associated with reduced bone size and mineral mass in late childhood. [18] Peak bone mass has shown to be a good predictor of risk of fracture and osteoporosis, with even a small increase in peak bone mass resulting in a much lower risk of bone fracture. [9] Research shows that genetic markers explain only a small proportion of variation in bone mass and risk of fracture. Therefore, healthy bone programming is most likely influenced by various epigenetic mechanisms, such as imprinting of the growth promoting genes IGF-2, or changes to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). [19]

Neurodevelopment

Imbalances in maternal nutrition can also have a significant effect on fetal neurodevelopment. Brain development occurs most rapidly during fetal development and infancy, and research has shown that exposure to certain environmental conditions can have long-lasting effects on cognition. Specifically, n-3 fatty acids, iodine, iron and choline have been shown to influence brain development and impact cognitive ability and behavior. The greatest evidence for a link between nutrition and neurodevelopment comes from studies that show low birth weight associated with low IQ and increased risk of schizophrenia. [20] [21] Several studies suggest that breast-feeding promotes long-term neurodevelopment by providing the nutrients necessary for proper brain development. [22] A study in mice showed that choline-deficient diets during the late gestation period impaired fetal brain development, including decreased cell proliferation and reduced visual-spatial and auditory memory. [23] These cognitive changes appeared to be due to altered histone and DNA methylation patterns in the fetal hippocampus, thus providing a link between maternal nutrition, epigenetics, and early brain development.

Type-1 diabetes

It has been postulated that breast-feeding may also protect against type-1 diabetes, with research showing that formula-fed infants are at an increased risk of developing islet autoantibodies. Individuals with type-1 diabetes experience a pre-clinical diabetes phase characterized by autoimmunity against pancreatic islets. [24] The introduction of certain foods in the first few months of life, such as berries and cereal, is significantly associated with increased risk of islet autoantibody development compared to babies who are exposed to solid foods later in life. [25] While the pathogenesis behind development of autoantibodies remains largely unknown, it is very probable that an epigenetic link exists between perinatal diet and risk of type-1 diabetes. [9]

Adulthood

The majority of research in nutriepigenomics has focused on nutritional imbalances during gestation and lactation periods. However, foods that are consumed during adulthood can also impact gene expression and disease pathogenesis. Cancer is the disease most commonly associated with adult nutrition and epigenetic modifications. DNA hypomethelation promotes cancer progression by allowing increased gene transcription, while hypermethylation can silence tumor suppressor genes and further promote uncontrolled cell division and tumor formation. Compounds found in foods, such as genistein and tea polyphenols, are able to regulate DNA methyltransferases and histone acetylation in cultured cancer cells and may provide protection against certain types of cancer. [13] Other dietary compounds, such as diallyl disulfide present in garlic and sulforaphane present in cruciferous vegetables, have been associated with cancer prevention in clinical trials. [26] This may be due to their ability to inhibit histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes and prevent silencing of important regulatory genes.

Transgenerational effects

Transgenerational effects of maternal protein restriction Transgenerational ProteinRestrictdiet.jpg
Transgenerational effects of maternal protein restriction

Many believe epigenetic regulation is cleared during the fertilization process, yet more evidence for transgenerational effects (TGEs) are being revealed. [1] These TGEs take place when the epigenetic regulatory patterns are not sufficiently erased during fertilization, possibly due to nutrition levels in previous generations. Later generations may be affected from caloric and protein restriction, high-fat interventions and endocrine disruption in earlier generations. [1] Differences within the nutritional behavior of the maternal rat are believed to cause malprogramming in the F1 generation and may then be passed to subsequent generations. [1] Maternal rats fed a PR-diet during the entire length of pregnancy led to metabolic-related problems in the F1 and F2 generations, even with normal nutrition during the F1 pregnancy. [27] [28] These effects have also been seen in the F3 generation depending on the length of protein restriction. [29] [30] If protein restriction occurred solely during pregnancy, the F1 and F2 offspring had higher systolic blood pressure and lower nephron numbers, possibly predisposing them to hypertension. [30] Altered glucose utilization was detected in the grand-offspring of maternal rats fed a PR-diet during pregnancy and lactation, potentially resulting in diabetes later on in life [29]

Protein-restriction in the F0 generation led to hypomethylation of promoters involved in metabolism in the F1 and F2 generations, even though the F1 pregnant rat was given a normal diet. [31] The exact mechanism of this situation has yet to be elucidated; however, direct transmission is a distinct possibility, meaning the epigenetic marks were preserved during spermatogenesis and oogenesis, when they are normally erased.

Models used in nutriepigenomic studies

Most research to date use common rodent models to investigate the role of nutrition on phenotype. [10] Popular areas to investigate include IUGR studies, whereby rodents, and sometimes sheep, are subjected to a variety of nutritional conditions. A model for studying IUGR in rodent was developed by Simmons et al. (2010) and is used to investigate type II diabetes. [32] The maternal rats have their uterine arteries ligated, causing altered use of glucose and insulin in the fetus and can therefore serve as a model for diabetes. These growth-retarded rats were found to be highly similar to human fetuses, as they both display symptoms such as lowered glucose and insulin levels. Gestational diabetes may also be studied through chemical induction using streptozotocin treatment of the pregnant rats. [33] Streptozotocin can cause destruction of the beta cells within the pancreas depending on the concentration given.

The predominant means of investigating nutriepigenetics involves varying the nutritional conditions to which a subject is exposed to and monitoring the effects thereafter. Restricting caloric and protein intake are the two most common methods. [33] A pregnant rodent may have their caloric intake reduced up to 30-50% of normal intake. Protein restricted rodents are given 8-9% casein, as opposed to control rats that are fed 20% casein. Micronutrients, such as zinc and iron, may also be restricted to investigate the effects on offspring. Additionally, rats fed diets lacking or including methyl donors are often used to study the effects of diet on epigenomics, as variations within the methylation of DNA are common means of silencing or expressing genes. [34] Supplementing maternal mice with folic acid, vitamin B12, choline and betaine leads to increased levels of DNA methylation at CpG sites and causes a coat color change. [35] This is an example of epigenetically modifiable loci called a “metastable epiallele”, of which only a few have been identified. The above is an example of the “agouti” gene locus, whereby the insertion of a transposable element upstream to the Agouti gene is hypermethylated from the supplementation and causes a change in the mice's coat color. Diets containing higher carbohydrate and fat content attempt to mimic typical Western-style diets may also be used in nutriepigenetic studies. [10] [33] Another method used is “catch-up”, where offspring of rats born to mothers subjected to various diets are subsequently cross-fostered to mothers fed normal diets. [33]

Future directions

The nutriepigenetic pathway of maternal choline-deficient diets helps to elucidate the development of fetal alcohol syndrome. FAS Choline.jpg
The nutriepigenetic pathway of maternal choline-deficient diets helps to elucidate the development of fetal alcohol syndrome.

The possibilities of utilizing nutriepigenomics for intervention are quite expansive. This can include preventative therapies, such as providing an optimal regime for nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. [33] It is already common place for pregnant mothers to supplement their diets with choline and folate to prevent the development of neurological disabilities in the fetus.

A highly specific diet, termed an "EpiG diet," may be employed for an individual believed to be at higher risk of developing a metabolic disorder. [1] These diets may include supplementation with methyl donors, such as folate. There are also many other natural compounds, such as resveratrol, curcumin and green tea that have been termed “epigenetic modifiers”, as they have anti-cancer capabilities in addition to being used as treatments for metabolic diseases. [36] However, the functions of these compounds still require long-term studies to evaluate their effect over time.

There also exists potential for therapeutic treatments that may correct metabolic disorders, such as type II diabetes. [33] Components of garlic and cruciferous vegetables are known to possess HDAC inhibitors that modify the acetylation of histone proteins and may contain a protection against cancer. [26] These same compounds have also been implicated in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colon cancer, as they may modify the histones normally implicated in these diseases. [37]

Elucidation of disease pathways is another future direction for nutriepigenomic studies. For example, choline-deficient diets and alcohol metabolism during pregnancy may have very similar metabolic pathways. [38] Therefore, animal studies using choline-restricted diets may assist in investigations of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

When compared to studies of maternal transmission, investigations into the role of paternal diets are lacking. A review demonstrated the nutrition of both parents do in fact play a role in determining the health of their offspring. [39] A germ-line study reported paternal rats fed a high-fat diet led to insulin dysfunction in the F1 offspring. [40] While this likely occurs via epigenetic modifications similar to those postulated in the maternal diets, the exact mechanism remains to be defined. Assessing the role of epigenetic mechanisms may be easier using paternal inheritance, as sperm transmits epigenetic and genetic information, whereas the female cells also transmit mitochondrial DNA. [39]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gallou-Kabani C, Vige A, Gross MS, Junien C (2007). "Nutri-epigenomics: Lifelong remodelling of our epigenomes by nutritional and metabolic factors and beyond". Clin Chem Lab Med. 45 (3): 321–7. doi:10.1515/CCLM.2007.081. PMID   17378726. S2CID   29084180.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Berdasco M, Esteller M (2010). "Aberrant epigenetic landscape in cancer: How cellular identity goes awry". Dev Cell. 19 (5): 698–711. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.10.005 . PMID   21074720.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Pozharny Y, Lambertini L, Clunie G, Ferrara L, Lee MJ (Mar 2010). "Epigenetics in women's health care". Mt Sinai J Med. 77 (2): 225–35. doi:10.1002/msj.20176. PMID   20309920.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Gheorghe CP, Goyal R, Holweger JD, Longo LD (May 2009). "Placental gene expression responses to maternal protein restriction in the mouse". Placenta. 30 (5): 411–7. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2009.03.002. PMC   2674533 . PMID   19362366.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Lillycrop KA, Phillips ES, Torrens C, Hanson MA, Jackson AA, Burdge GC (Aug 2008). "Feeding pregnant rats a protein-restricted diet persistently alters the methylation of specific cytosines in the hepatic PPAR alpha promoter of the offspring". Br J Nutr. 100 (2): 278–82. doi:10.1017/S0007114507894438. PMC   2564112 . PMID   18186951.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Lillycrop KA, Slater-Jefferies JL, Hanson MA, Godfrey KM, Jackson AA, Burdge GC (Jun 2007). "Induction of altered epigenetic regulation of the hepatic glucocorticoid receptor in the offspring of rats fed a protein-restricted diet during pregnancy suggests that reduced DNA methyltransferase-1 expression is involved in impaired DNA methylation and changes in histone modifications". Br J Nutr. 97 (6): 1064–73. doi:10.1017/S000711450769196X. PMC   2211425 . PMID   17433129.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. 1 2 Burdge GC, Lillycrop KA (2010). "Nutrition, epigenetics, and developmental plasticity: Implications for understanding human disease". Annu Rev Nutr. 30: 315–39. doi:10.1146/annurev.nutr.012809.104751. PMID   20415585.
  8. 1 2 Tamashiro KL, Moran TH (2010). "Perinatal environment and its influences on metabolic programming of offspring". Physiol Behav. 100 (5): 560–6. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.04.008. PMC   2886179 . PMID   20394764.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hanley B, Dijane J, Fewtrell M, Grynberg A, Hummel S, Junien C, Koletzko B, Lewis S, Renz H, Symonds M, Gros M, Harthoorn L, Mace K, Samuels F, van Der Beek EM (Jul 2010). "Metabolic imprinting, programming and epigenetics - a review of present priorities and future opportunities". Br J Nutr. 104: S1–25. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510003338 . PMID   20929595.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Simmons R (February 2011). "Epigenetics and maternal nutrition: nature v. nurture". Proc Nutr Soc. 70 (1): 73–81. doi: 10.1017/S0029665110003988 . PMID   21110912.
  11. ↑ Jensen CB, Storgaard H, Dela F, Holst JJ, Madsbad S, Vaag AA (Apr 2002). "Early differential defects of insulin secretion and action in 19-year-old caucasian men who had low birth weight". Diabetes. 51 (4): 1271–80. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.51.4.1271 . PMID   11916955.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Park JH, Stoffers DA, Nicholls RD, Simmons RA (Jun 2008). "Development of type 2 diabetes following intrauterine growth retardation in rats is associated with progressive epigenetic silencing of Pdx1". J Clin Invest. 118 (6): 2316–24. doi:10.1172/JCI33655. PMC   2373422 . PMID   18464933.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. 1 2 3 Campion J, Milagro FI, Martinez JA (Jul 2009). "Individuality and epigenetics in obesity". Obes Rev. 10 (4): 383–92. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00595.x . PMID   19413700.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Dunlevy LP, Burren KA, Mills K, Chitty LS, Copp AJ, Greene ND (Jul 2006). "Integrity of the methylation cycle is essential for mammalian neural tube closure". Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology. 76 (7): 544–52. doi:10.1002/bdra.20286. PMID   16933307.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Linask KK, Huhta J (2010). "Folate protection from congenital heart defects linked with canonical wnt signaling and epigenetics". Curr Opin Pediatr. 22 (5): 561–6. doi:10.1097/MOP.0b013e32833e2723. PMC   3004285 . PMID   20844350.
  16. ↑ Frye, R. E.; Slattery, J.; Delhey, L.; Furgerson, B.; Strickland, T.; Tippett, M.; Sailey, A.; Wynne, R.; Rose, S. (2016-10-18). "Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial". Molecular Psychiatry. 23 (2): 247–256. doi:10.1038/mp.2016.168. ISSN   1476-5578. PMC   5794882 . PMID   27752075.
  17. ↑ Jones G, Dwyer T (October 2000). "Birth weight, birth length, and bone density in prepubertal children: evidence for an association that may be mediated by genetic factors". Calcif. Tissue Int. 67 (4): 304–8. doi:10.1007/s002230001148. PMID   11000344. S2CID   28607176.
  18. ↑ Javaid MK, Crozier SR, Harvey NC; et al. (January 2006). "Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and childhood bone mass at age 9 years: a longitudinal study". Lancet. 367 (9504): 36–43. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)67922-1. PMID   16399151. S2CID   6608342.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Cooper C, Harvey N, Cole Z, Hanson M, Dennison E (2009). "Developmental Origins of Osteoporosis: The Role of Maternal Nutrition". Early Nutrition Programming and Health Outcomes in Later Life. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 646. pp. 31–9. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9173-5_3. ISBN   978-1-4020-9172-8. PMID   19536660.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ Richards M, Hardy R, Kuh D, Wadsworth ME (January 2001). "Birth weight and cognitive function in the British 1946 birth cohort: longitudinal population based study". BMJ. 322 (7280): 199–203. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7280.199. PMC   26584 . PMID   11159613.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ Gunnell D, Harrison G, Whitley E, Lewis G, Tynelius P, Rasmussen F (November 2005). "The association of fetal and childhood growth with risk of schizophrenia. Cohort study of 720,000 Swedish men and women". Schizophr. Res. 79 (2–3): 315–22. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2005.07.022. PMID   16125903. S2CID   20845635.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Lucas A (February 1998). "Programming by early nutrition: an experimental approach". J. Nutr. 128 (2 Suppl): 401S–406S. doi: 10.1093/jn/128.2.401S . PMID   9478036.
  23. ↑ Mehedint MG, Niculescu MD, Craciunescu CN, Zeisel SH (Jan 2010). "Choline deficiency alters global histone methylation and epigenetic marking at the Re1 site of the calbindin 1 gene". FASEB J. 24 (1): 184–95. doi: 10.1096/fj.09-140145 . PMC   2797040 . PMID   19752176.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ Eisenbarth GS (1986). "Type I diabetes mellitus. A chronic autoimmune disease". N Engl J Med. 314 (21): 1360–8. doi:10.1056/NEJM198605223142106. PMID   3517648.
  25. ↑ Ziegler AG, Schmid S, Huber D, Hummel M, Bonifacio E (2003). "Early infant feeding and risk of developing type 1 diabetes-associated autoantibodies". JAMA. 290 (13): 1721–8. doi:10.1001/jama.290.13.1721. PMID   14519706.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. 1 2 Davis CD, Ross SA (February 2007). "Dietary components impact histone modifications and cancer risk". Nutr. Rev. 65 (2): 88–94. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2007.tb00285.x . PMID   17345961.
  27. ↑ Martin JF; Johnston CR; Han CT; Benyshek DC (April 2000). "Nutritional origins of insulin resistance: a rat model for diabetes-prone human populations. 2000". J Nutr. 130 (4): 741–44. doi: 10.1093/jn/130.4.741 . PMID   10736323.
  28. ↑ Zambrano E; Martínez-Samayoa PM; Bautista CJ; et al. (July 2005). "Sex differences in transgenerational alterations of growth and metabolism in progeny (F2) of female offspring (F1) of rats fed a low protein diet during pregnancy and lactation". J. Physiol. (Lond.). 566 (Pt 1): 225–36. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2005.086462. PMC   1464716 . PMID   15860532.
  29. 1 2 Harrison, M; Langley-Evans, SC (2009). "Intergenerational programming of impaired nephrogenesis and hypertension in rats following maternal protein restriction during pregnancy". J. Nutr. 101 (7): 1020–30. doi:10.1017/S0007114508057607. PMC   2665257 . PMID   18778527.
  30. 1 2 Benyshek DC; Johnston CS; Martin JF (May 2006). "Glucose metabolism is altered in the adequately-nourished grand-offspring (F3 generation) of rats malnourished during gestation and perinatal life. 2006". Diabetologia. 49 (5): 1117–19. doi: 10.1007/s00125-006-0196-5 . PMID   16557373.
  31. ↑ Burdge GC; Slater-Jefferies J; Torrens C; Phillips ES; Hanson MA; Lillycrop KA (March 2007). "Dietary protein restriction of pregnant rats in the F0 generation induces altered methylation of hepatic gene promoters in the adult male offspring in the F1 and F2 generations. 2007". Br J Nutr. 97 (3): 435–9. doi:10.1017/S0007114507352392. PMC   2211514 . PMID   17313703.
  32. ↑ Boloker J, Gertz SJ, Simmons RA (May 2002). "Gestational diabetes leads to the development of diabetes in adulthood in the rat. 2002". Diabetes. 51 (5): 1499–1506. doi:10.2337/diabetes.51.5.1499. PMID   11978648.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fernandez-Twinn DS, Ozanne SE (November 2010). "Early life nutrition and metabolic programming". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1212 (1): 78–96. Bibcode:2010NYASA1212...78F. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05798.x . PMID   21070247.
  34. ↑ Niculescu MD, Zeisel SH (August 2002). "Diet, methyl donors and DNA methylation: interactions between dietary folate, methionine and choline". J. Nutr. 132 (8 Suppl): 2333S–2335S. doi: 10.1093/jn/132.8.2333S . PMID   12163687.
  35. ↑ Waterland R. A., Jirtle R. L. (August 2003). "Transposable elements: targets for early nutritional effects on epigenetic gene regulation. 2003". Mol. Cell. Biol. 23 (15): 5293–5300. doi:10.1128/MCB.23.15.5293-5300.2003. PMC   165709 . PMID   12861015.
  36. ↑ Sziv KS, Ndlovu MN, Haegeman G, Vanden Berghe W (December 2010). "Nature or nurture: let food be your epigenetic medicine in chronic inflammatory disorders. 2010" (PDF). Biochem. Pharmacol. 80 (12): 1816–32. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2010.07.029. PMID   20688047.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. ↑ Barnett M, Bermingham E, McNabb W, Bassett S, Armstrong K, Rounce J, Roy N (August 2010). "Investigating micronutrients and epigenetic mechanisms in relation to inflammatory bowel disease". Mutat. Res. 690 (1): 71–80. doi:10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2010.02.006. PMID   20188748.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ Zeisel S (2011). "What Choline Metabolism Can Tell Us About the Underlying Mechanisms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders". Mol. Neurobiol. 44 (2): 185–91. doi:10.1007/s12035-011-8165-5. PMC   3605552 . PMID   21259123.
  39. 1 2 Ferguson-Smith AC, Patti ME (2011). "You are what your dad ate". Cell Metab. 13 (2): 115–7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.01.011 . PMID   21284975.
  40. ↑ Ng S.F., Lin R.C., Laybutt D.R., Barres R., Owens J.A., Morris M.J. (October 2010). "Chronic high-fat diet in fathers programs β-cell dysfunction in female rat offspring. 2010". Nature. 467 (7318): 963–966. doi:10.1038/nature09491. PMID   20962845. S2CID   4308799.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epigenetics</span> Study of DNA modifications that do not change its sequence

In biology, epigenetics is the study of heritable traits, or a stable change of cell function, that happen without changes to the DNA sequence. The Greek prefix epi- in epigenetics implies features that are "on top of" or "in addition to" the traditional genetic mechanism of inheritance. Epigenetics usually involves a change that is not erased by cell division, and affects the regulation of gene expression. Such effects on cellular and physiological phenotypic traits may result from environmental factors, or be part of normal development. They can lead to cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choline</span> Chemical compound and essential nutrient

Choline ( KOH-leen) is an essential nutrient for humans and many other animals, which was formerly classified as a B vitamin (vitamin B4). It is a structural part of phospholipids and a methyl donor in metabolic one-carbon chemistry. The compound is related to trimethylglycine in the latter respect. It is a cation with the chemical formula [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+. Choline forms various salts, for example choline chloride and choline bitartrate.

A maternal effect is a situation where the phenotype of an organism is determined not only by the environment it experiences and its genotype, but also by the environment and genotype of its mother. In genetics, maternal effects occur when an organism shows the phenotype expected from the genotype of the mother, irrespective of its own genotype, often due to the mother supplying messenger RNA or proteins to the egg. Maternal effects can also be caused by the maternal environment independent of genotype, sometimes controlling the size, sex, or behaviour of the offspring. These adaptive maternal effects lead to phenotypes of offspring that increase their fitness. Further, it introduces the concept of phenotypic plasticity, an important evolutionary concept. It has been proposed that maternal effects are important for the evolution of adaptive responses to environmental heterogeneity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agouti-signaling protein</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Agouti-signaling protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ASIP gene. It is responsible for the distribution of melanin pigment in mammals. Agouti interacts with the melanocortin 1 receptor to determine whether the melanocyte produces phaeomelanin, or eumelanin. This interaction is responsible for making distinct light and dark bands in the hairs of animals such as the agouti, which the gene is named after. In other species such as horses, agouti signalling is responsible for determining which parts of the body will be red or black. Mice with wildtype agouti will be grey-brown, with each hair being partly yellow and partly black. Loss of function mutations in mice and other species cause black fur coloration, while mutations causing expression throughout the whole body in mice cause yellow fur and obesity.

Metabolic imprinting refers to the long-term physiological and metabolic effects that an offspring's prenatal and postnatal environments have on them. Perinatal nutrition has been identified as a significant factor in determining an offspring's likelihood of it being predisposed to developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes amongst other conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance</span> Epigenetic transmission without DNA primary structure alteration

Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is the transmission of epigenetic markers and modifications from one generation to multiple subsequent generations without altering the primary structure of DNA. Thus, the regulation of genes via epigenetic mechanisms can be heritable; the amount of transcripts and proteins produced can be altered by inherited epigenetic changes. In order for epigenetic marks to be heritable, however, they must occur in the gametes in animals, but since plants lack a definitive germline and can propagate, epigenetic marks in any tissue can be heritable.

Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is an approach to medical research factors that can lead to the development of human diseases during early life development. These factors include the role of prenatal and perinatal exposure to environmental factors, such as undernutrition, stress, environmental chemical, etc. This approach includes an emphasis on epigenetic causes of adult chronic non-communicable diseases. As well as physical human disease, the psychopathology of the foetus can also be predicted by epigenetic factors.

In recent years it has become apparent that the environment and underlying mechanisms affect gene expression and the genome outside of the central dogma of biology. It has been found that many epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the regulation and expression of genes such as DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling. These epigenetic mechanisms are believed to be a contributing factor to pathological diseases such as type 2 diabetes. An understanding of the epigenome of diabetes patients may help to elucidate otherwise hidden causes of this disease.

Behavioral epigenetics is the field of study examining the role of epigenetics in shaping animal and human behavior. It seeks to explain how nurture shapes nature, where nature refers to biological heredity and nurture refers to virtually everything that occurs during the life-span. Behavioral epigenetics attempts to provide a framework for understanding how the expression of genes is influenced by experiences and the environment to produce individual differences in behaviour, cognition, personality, and mental health.

The epigenetics of schizophrenia is the study of how inherited epigenetic changes are regulated and modified by the environment and external factors and how these changes influence the onset and development of, and vulnerability to, schizophrenia. Epigenetics concerns the heritability of those changes, too. Schizophrenia is a debilitating and often misunderstood disorder that affects up to 1% of the world's population. Although schizophrenia is a heavily studied disorder, it has remained largely impervious to scientific understanding; epigenetics offers a new avenue for research, understanding, and treatment.

Epigenetics of physical exercise is the study of epigenetic modifications to the cell genome resulting from physical exercise. Environmental factors, including physical exercise, have been shown to have a beneficial influence on epigenetic modifications. Generally, it has been shown that acute and long-term exercise has a significant effect on DNA methylation, an important aspect of epigenetic modifications.

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that occur via mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNA modification. When these epigenetic changes are heritable, they can influence evolution. Current research indicates that epigenetics has influenced evolution in a number of organisms, including plants and animals.

Epigenetic effects of smoking concerns how epigenetics contributes to the deleterious effects of smoking. Cigarette smoking has been found to affect global epigenetic regulation of transcription across tissue types. Studies have shown differences in epigenetic markers like DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNA expression between smokers and non-smokers. Similar differences exist in children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. These epigenetic effects are thought to be linked to many of negative health effects associated with smoking.

Epigenetics of anxiety and stress–related disorders is the field studying the relationship between epigenetic modifications of genes and anxiety and stress-related disorders, including mental health disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and more. These changes can lead to transgenerational stress inheritance.

Gene-environment interplay describes how genes and environments work together to produce a phenotype, or observable trait. Many human traits are influenced by gene-environment interplay. It is a key component in understanding how genes and the environment come together to impact human development. Examples of gene-environment interplay include gene-environment interaction and gene-environment correlation. Another type of gene-environment interplay is epigenetics, which is the study of how environmental factors can affect gene expression without altering DNA sequences.

The first 1,000 days describes the period from conception to 24 months of age in child development. This is considered a "critical period" in which sufficient nutrition and environmental factors have life-long effects on a child's overall health. While adequate nutrition can be exceptionally beneficial during this critical period, inadequate nutrition may also be detrimental to the child. This is because children establish many of their lifetime epigenetic characteristics in their first 1,000 days. Medical and public health interventions early on in child development during the first 1,000 days may have higher rates of success compared to those achieved outside of this period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diabetic embryopathy</span> Medical condition

Diabetic embryopathy refers to congenital maldevelopments that are linked to maternal diabetes. Prenatal exposure to hyperglycemia can result in spontaneous abortions, perinatal mortality, and malformations. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic pregnancies both increase the risk of diabetes induced teratogenicity. The rate of congenital malformations is similar in Type 1 and 2 mothers because of increased adiposity and the age of women with type 2 diabetes. Genetic predisposition and different environmental factors both play a significant role in the development of diabetic embryopathy. Metabolic dysfunction in pregnant mothers also increases the risk of fetal malformations.

Sleep epigenetics is the field of how epigenetics affects sleep.

Environmental epigenetics is a branch of epigenetics that studies the influence of external environmental factors on the gene expression of a developing embryo. The way that genes are expressed may be passed down from parent to offspring through epigenetic modifications, although environmental influences do not alter the genome itself.

Nutritional epigenetics is a science that studies the effects of nutrition on gene expression and chromatin accessibility. It is a subcategory of nutritional genomics that focuses on the effects of bioactive food components on epigenetic events.

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