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[Epigenetics and Nutrition: maternal nutrition impacts on placental development and health of offspring].
- Source :
-
Biologie aujourd'hui [Biol Aujourdhui] 2015; Vol. 209 (2), pp. 175-87. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Oct 29. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
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.<br /> (© Société de Biologie, 2015.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Animals
Cardiovascular Diseases embryology
Cardiovascular Diseases physiopathology
DNA Methylation
Diet, High-Fat adverse effects
Disease Susceptibility
Female
Fetal Nutrition Disorders etiology
Fetal Nutrition Disorders prevention & control
Histones metabolism
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Malnutrition physiopathology
Metabolic Syndrome embryology
Metabolic Syndrome physiopathology
Mice
Models, Biological
Obesity embryology
Obesity physiopathology
Placenta physiopathology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications physiopathology
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Protein Processing, Post-Translational
Rabbits
Sex Characteristics
Embryonic Development genetics
Epigenesis, Genetic
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Placenta physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- French
- ISSN :
- 2105-0686
- Volume :
- 209
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biologie aujourd'hui
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26514387
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1051/jbio/2015021