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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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Weckmann M, Reddy KD. Epigenome-wide association studies: the exposures of yesterday form the methylations of tomorrow. Eur Respir J 2023; 62:2301552. [PMID: 38128955 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01552-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Weckmann
- Division of Epigenetics in Chronic Lung Disease, Priority Area Chronic Lung Diseases, Leibniz Lung Center, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
- Airway Research Centre North (ARCN), German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergology, University Children's Hospital Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Karosham Diren Reddy
- Division of Epigenetics in Chronic Lung Disease, Priority Area Chronic Lung Diseases, Leibniz Lung Center, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
- Airway Research Centre North (ARCN), German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
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Reddy KD, Oliver BGG. Sexual dimorphism in chronic respiratory diseases. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:47. [PMID: 36882807 PMCID: PMC9993607 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-00998-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in susceptibility, severity, and progression are prevalent for various diseases in multiple organ systems. This phenomenon is particularly apparent in respiratory diseases. Asthma demonstrates an age-dependent pattern of sexual dimorphism. However, marked differences between males and females exist in other pervasive conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone are commonly considered the primary factors causing sexual dimorphism in disease. However, how they contribute to differences in disease onset between males and females remains undefined. The sex chromosomes are an under-investigated fundamental form of sexual dimorphism. Recent studies highlight key X and Y-chromosome-linked genes that regulate vital cell processes and can contribute to disease-relevant mechanisms. This review summarises patterns of sex differences in asthma, COPD and lung cancer, highlighting physiological mechanisms causing the observed dimorphism. We also describe the role of the sex hormones and present candidate genes on the sex chromosomes as potential factors contributing to sexual dimorphism in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karosham Diren Reddy
- Respiratory and Cellular Molecular Biology Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia.
- School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Brian Gregory George Oliver
- Respiratory and Cellular Molecular Biology Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia
- School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
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