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Wu D, Zhang K, Guan K, Khan FA, Pandupuspitasari NS, Negara W, Sun F, Huang C. Future in the past: paternal reprogramming of offspring phenotype and the epigenetic mechanisms. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1685-1703. [PMID: 38460001 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03713-6] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
That certain preconceptual paternal exposures reprogram the developmental phenotypic plasticity in future generation(s) has conceptualized the "paternal programming of offspring health" hypothesis. This transgenerational effect is transmitted primarily through sperm epigenetic mechanisms-DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and associated RNA modifications, and histone modifications-and potentially through non-sperm-specific mechanisms-seminal plasma and circulating factors-that create 'imprinted' memory of ancestral information. The epigenetic landscape in sperm is highly responsive to environmental cues, due to, in part, the soma-to-germline communication mediated by epididymosomes. While human epidemiological studies and experimental animal studies have provided solid evidences in support of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, how ancestral information is memorized as epigenetic codes for germline transmission is poorly understood. Particular elusive is what the downstream effector pathways that decode those epigenetic codes into persistent phenotypes. In this review, we discuss the paternal reprogramming of offspring phenotype and the possible underlying epigenetic mechanisms. Cracking these epigenetic mechanisms will lead to a better appreciation of "Paternal Origins of Health and Disease" and guide innovation of intervention algorithms to achieve 'healthier' outcomes in future generations. All this will revolutionize our understanding of human disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Kejia Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Kaifeng Guan
- School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Faheem Ahmed Khan
- Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta Pusat, 10340, Indonesia
| | | | - Windu Negara
- Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta Pusat, 10340, Indonesia
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Chunjie Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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2
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Otaru N, Kourouma L, Pugin B, Constancias F, Braegger C, Mansuy IM, Lacroix C. Transgenerational effects of early life stress on the fecal microbiota in mice. Commun Biol 2024; 7:670. [PMID: 38822061 PMCID: PMC11143345 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06279-2] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress in early life can affect the progeny and increase the risk to develop psychiatric and cardiometabolic diseases across generations. The cross-generational effects of early life stress have been modeled in mice and demonstrated to be associated with epigenetic factors in the germline. While stress is known to affect gut microbial features, whether its effects can persist across life and be passed to the progeny is not well defined. Here we show that early postnatal stress in mice shifts the fecal microbial composition (binary Jaccard index) throughout life, including abundance of eight amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs). Further effects on fecal microbial composition, structure (weighted Jaccard index), and abundance of 16 ASVs are detected in the progeny across two generations. These effects are not accompanied by changes in bacterial metabolites in any generation. These results suggest that changes in the fecal microbial community induced by early life traumatic stress can be perpetuated from exposed parent to the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nize Otaru
- Nutrition Research Unit, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lola Kourouma
- Department of Health Science and Technology of the ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, and Institute for Neuroscience, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zürich, ETH and University Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benoit Pugin
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Florentin Constancias
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Braegger
- Nutrition Research Unit, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Mansuy
- Department of Health Science and Technology of the ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, and Institute for Neuroscience, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Center for Neuroscience Zürich, ETH and University Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Christophe Lacroix
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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Vázquez-Sánchez A, Rodríguez-Ríos D, Colín-Castelán D, Molina-Torres J, Ramírez-Chávez E, Romo-Morales GDC, Zaina S, Lund G. Effects of paternal arachidonic acid supplementation on offspring behavior and hypothalamus inflammation markers in the mouse. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300141. [PMID: 38512839 PMCID: PMC10956830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300141] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Arachidonic acid (AA) is involved in inflammation and plays a role in growth and brain development in infants. We previously showed that exposure of mouse sires to AA for three consecutive generations induces a cumulative change in fatty acid (FA) involved in inflammation and an increase in body and liver weight in the offspring. Here, we tested the hypothesis that paternal AA exposure changes the progeny's behavioral response to a proinflammatory insult, and asked whether tissue-specific FA are associated with that response. Male BALB/c mice were supplemented daily with three doses of AA for 10 days and crossed to non-supplemented females (n = 3/dose). Two-month-old unsupplemented male and female offspring (n = 6/paternal AA dose) were exposed to Gram-negative bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or saline control two hours prior to open field test (OFT) behavioral analysis and subsequent sacrifice. We probed for significant effects of paternal AA exposure on: OFT behaviors; individual FA content of blood, hypothalamus and hypothalamus-free brain; hypothalamic expression profile of genes related to inflammation (Tnfa, Il1b, Cox1, Cox2) and FA synthesis (Scd1, Elovl6). All parameters were affected by paternal AA supplementation in a sex-specific manner. Paternal AA primed the progeny for behavior associated with increased anxiety, with a marked sex dimorphism: high AA doses acted as surrogate of LPS in males, realigning a number of OFT behaviors that in females were differential between saline and LPS groups. Progeny hypothalamic Scd1, a FA metabolism enzyme with documented pro-inflammatory activity, showed a similar pattern of differential expression between saline and LPS groups at high paternal AA dose in females, that was blunted in males. Progeny FA generally were not affected by LPS, but displayed non-linear associations with paternal AA doses. In conclusion, we document that paternal exposure to AA exerts long-term behavioral and biochemical effects in the progeny in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dannia Colín-Castelán
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Leon Campus, Leon, Gto., Mexico
| | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, CINVESTAV Irapuato Unit, Irapuato, Mexico
| | | | | | - Silvio Zaina
- Division of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Leon Campus, Leon, Gto., Mexico
| | - Gertrud Lund
- Department of Genetic Engineering, CINVESTAV Irapuato Unit, Irapuato, Mexico
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4
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Rice RC, Gil DV, Baratta AM, Frawley RR, Hill SY, Farris SP, Homanics GE. Inter- and transgenerational heritability of preconception chronic stress or alcohol exposure: Translational outcomes in brain and behavior. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100603. [PMID: 38234394 PMCID: PMC10792982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100603] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress and alcohol (ethanol) use are highly interrelated and can change an individual's behavior through molecular adaptations that do not change the DNA sequence, but instead change gene expression. A recent wealth of research has found that these nongenomic changes can be transmitted across generations, which could partially account for the "missing heritability" observed in genome-wide association studies of alcohol use disorder and other stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize the molecular and behavioral outcomes of nongenomic inheritance of chronic stress and ethanol exposure and the germline mechanisms that could give rise to this heritability. In doing so, we outline the need for further research to: (1) Investigate individual germline mechanisms of paternal, maternal, and biparental nongenomic chronic stress- and ethanol-related inheritance; (2) Synthesize and dissect cross-generational chronic stress and ethanol exposure; (3) Determine cross-generational molecular outcomes of preconception ethanol exposure that contribute to alcohol-related disease risk, using cancer as an example. A detailed understanding of the cross-generational nongenomic effects of stress and/or ethanol will yield novel insight into the impact of ancestral perturbations on disease risk across generations and uncover actionable targets to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Rice
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniela V. Gil
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Annalisa M. Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Remy R. Frawley
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shirley Y. Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sean P. Farris
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gregg E. Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Senaldi L, Hassan N, Cullen S, Balaji U, Trigg N, Gu J, Finkelstein H, Phillips K, Conine C, Smith-Raska M. Khdc3 Regulates Metabolism Across Generations in a DNA-Independent Manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.27.582278. [PMID: 38464133 PMCID: PMC10925209 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.582278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Genetic variants can alter the profile of heritable molecules such as small RNAs in sperm and oocytes, and in this manner ancestral genetic variants can have a significant effect on offspring phenotypes even if they are not themselves inherited. Here we show that wild type female mice descended from ancestors with a mutation in the mammalian germ cell gene Khdc3 have hepatic metabolic defects that persist over multiple generations. We find that genetically wild type females descended from Khdc3 mutants have transcriptional dysregulation of critical hepatic metabolic genes, which persist over multiple generations and pass through both female and male lineages. This was associated with dysregulation of hepatically-metabolized molecules in the blood of these wild type mice with mutational ancestry. The oocytes of Khdc3-null females, as well as their wild type descendants, had dysregulation of multiple small RNAs, suggesting that these epigenetic changes in the gametes transmit the phenotype between generations. Our results demonstrate that ancestral mutation in Khdc3 can produce transgenerational inherited phenotypes, potentially indefinitely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana Senaldi
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nora Hassan
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sean Cullen
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Uthra Balaji
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalie Trigg
- Departments of Genetics and Paediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jinghua Gu
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hailey Finkelstein
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn Phillips
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Colin Conine
- Departments of Genetics and Paediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Matthew Smith-Raska
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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6
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Chen Q. Sperm RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance in mammals: challenges and opportunities. Reprod Fertil Dev 2022; 35:118-124. [PMID: 36592983 PMCID: PMC9827497 DOI: 10.1071/rd22218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence now shows that in addition to delivering a haploid DNA, the mammalian sperm also carry various types of RNAs that respond to the paternal environment, which can mediate the intergenerational transmission of certain phenotypes to the offspring relating to the paternal environmental exposures (e.g. diet, mental stress). Improved analytical tools are beginning to decipher the complexity of sperm RNAs, RNA modifications and their spatial compartmentalisation, which support the concept of 'sperm RNA code' in programming specific offspring phenotypes during embryonic development. In this commentary article, I discuss the challenges and opportunities in solidifying the field of mammalian sperm RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance, including the identification of the key sperm RNAs that are responsible for the paternal phenotype transmission, and the cellular and molecular events that are triggered by sperm RNAs during embryo development. I also discuss the translational application potential by harnessing the knowledge of sperm RNA code to improve farm animal production and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Chen
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.,Correspondence to: Qi Chen, Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA,
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7
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Boscardin C, Manuella F, Mansuy IM. Paternal transmission of behavioural and metabolic traits induced by postnatal stress to the 5th generation in mice. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2022; 8:dvac024. [PMID: 36518875 PMCID: PMC9730319 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Life experiences and environmental conditions in childhood can change the physiology and behaviour of exposed individuals and, in some cases, of their offspring. In rodent models, stress/trauma, poor diet, and endocrine disruptors in a parent have been shown to cause phenotypes in the direct progeny, suggesting intergenerational inheritance. A few models also examined transmission to further offspring and suggested transgenerational inheritance, but such multigenerational inheritance is not well characterized. Our previous work on a mouse model of early postnatal stress showed that behaviour and metabolism are altered in the offspring of exposed males up to the 4th generation in the patriline and up to the 2nd generation in the matriline. The present study examined if symptoms can be transmitted beyond the 4th generation in the patriline. Analyses of the 5th and 6th generations of mice revealed that altered risk-taking and glucose regulation caused by postnatal stress are still manifested in the 5th generation but are attenuated in the 6th generation. Some of the symptoms are expressed in both males and females, but some are sex-dependent and sometimes opposite. These results indicate that postnatal trauma can affect behaviour and metabolism over many generations, suggesting epigenetic mechanisms of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Boscardin
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine of the University Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology of ETH Zürich, Centre for Neuroscience Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Manuella
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine of the University Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology of ETH Zürich, Centre for Neuroscience Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Mansuy
- *Correspondence address. Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland. Tel: +41 44 6353360; Fax: +41 44 635 33 03; E-mail:
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8
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Thumfart KM, Lazzeri S, Manuella F, Mansuy IM. Long-term effects of early postnatal stress on Sertoli cells. Front Genet 2022; 13:1024805. [PMID: 36353105 PMCID: PMC9638847 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1024805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sertoli cells are somatic cells in testis essential for spermatogenesis, that support the development, maturation, and differentiation of germ cells. Sertoli cells are metabolically highly active and physiologically regulated by external signals, particularly factors in the blood stream. In disease conditions, circulating pathological signals may affect Sertoli cells and consequentially, alter germ cells and fertility. While the effects of stress on reproductive cells have been well studied, how Sertoli cells respond to stress remains poorly characterized. We used a mouse model of early postnatal stress to assess the effects of stress on Sertoli cells. We developed an improved strategy based on intracellular stainings and obtained enriched preparations of Sertoli cells from exposed males. We show that adult Sertoli cells have impaired electron transport chain (ETC) pathways and that several components of ETC complexes particularly complex I, III, and IV are persistently affected. We identify serum as potential mediator of the effects of stress on Sertoli cells by showing that it can recapitulate ETC alterations in primary cells. These results highlight Sertoli cells as cellular targets of stress in early life that can keep a trace of exposure until adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Thumfart
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Neuroscience Center Zürich, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University Zürich, and Institute of Neuroscience of the Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Lazzeri
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Neuroscience Center Zürich, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University Zürich, and Institute of Neuroscience of the Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- IFOM, FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Manuella
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Neuroscience Center Zürich, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University Zürich, and Institute of Neuroscience of the Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M. Mansuy
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Neuroscience Center Zürich, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University Zürich, and Institute of Neuroscience of the Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Trans- and Multigenerational Maternal Social Isolation Stress Programs the Blood Plasma Metabolome in the F3 Generation. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12070572. [PMID: 35888696 PMCID: PMC9320469 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12070572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic risk factors are among the most common causes of noncommunicable diseases, and stress critically contributes to metabolic risk. In particular, social isolation during pregnancy may represent a salient stressor that affects offspring metabolic health, with potentially adverse consequences for future generations. Here, we used proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to analyze the blood plasma metabolomes of the third filial (F3) generation of rats born to lineages that experienced either transgenerational or multigenerational maternal social isolation stress. We show that maternal social isolation induces distinct and robust metabolic profiles in the blood plasma of adult F3 offspring, which are characterized by critical switches in energy metabolism, such as upregulated formate and creatine phosphate metabolisms and downregulated glucose metabolism. Both trans- and multigenerational stress altered plasma metabolomic profiles in adult offspring when compared to controls. Social isolation stress increasingly affected pathways involved in energy metabolism and protein biosynthesis, particularly in branched-chain amino acid synthesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (lactate, citrate), muscle performance (alanine, creatine phosphate), and immunoregulation (serine, threonine). Levels of creatine phosphate, leucine, and isoleucine were associated with changes in anxiety-like behaviours in open field exploration. The findings reveal the metabolic underpinnings of epigenetically heritable diseases and suggest that even remote maternal social stress may become a risk factor for metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, and adverse mental health outcomes. Metabolomic signatures of transgenerational stress may aid in the risk prediction and early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases in precision medicine approaches.
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Small Noncoding RNAs Contribute to Sperm Oxidative Stress-Induced Programming of Behavioral and Metabolic Phenotypes in Offspring. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:6877283. [PMID: 35707281 PMCID: PMC9192199 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6877283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that paternal environmental information alters small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) in sperm and in turn can induce alterations of metabolic and behavioral phenotypes of the next generation. However, the potential mediators of the effects remain to be elucidated. A great diversity of environmental insults and stresses can convergently induce the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sperm; nonetheless, it remains unclear whether ROS mediates the biogenesis of sncRNAs in sperm and participates in the reprogramming of offspring phenotypes. Here, we show that ROS could induce the alteration of sncRNA profiles in sperm, especially for transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) and ribosomal RNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs). Zygotic injection of 29-34 nt RNA fractions (predominantly tsRNAs and rsRNAs) from oxidative stress (OS) sperm could induce depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors in male offspring. Moreover, zygotic injection with synthetic RNAs partially resembled OS sperm-induced depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors in offspring. Male offspring maintained on a chow diet was found to develop impaired glucose tolerance and hyperactive hepatic gluconeogenesis, accompanied by the upregulation of hepatic gluconeogenic and lipolytic genes. Together, our results have shown that ROS-induced alteration of sncRNA profiles in sperm contributes to the alterations of behavioral and metabolic phenotypes of the offspring.
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Wang HD, Allard P. Challenging dogmas: How transgenerational epigenetics reshapes our views on life. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:70-74. [PMID: 33900057 PMCID: PMC8546026 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of the field of transgenerational epigenetics inheritance (TEI) has profoundly reshaped our understanding of the relationships between environment, soma, and germ cells as well as of heredity. TEI refers to the changes in chromatin state, gene expression, and/or phenotypes that are transmitted across several generations without involving changes to the DNA sequences. TEI has direct connections with, and feeds from, the fields of molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, and reproductive biology, among others. However, the expansion of TEI-related research, has profoundly reshaped boundaries within each field and often led to the erosion of theories and concepts considered as tenets of biology. We first explore how the molecularization of biology has shifted the definition of epigenetics to include the notion of heredity and how epigenetics has refined our understanding of the central dogma of biology. The demonstrated transfer of environmental information from soma to germ cell through extracellular vesicles and subsequent alteration of health outcomes in offspring has put a definite end to the long-held principle of the Weismann barrier. TEI has also simultaneously led to the revival of the inheritance of acquired characteristics while further eroding the concept of an epigenetic "blank slate" in mammals. Using an historical framework, and via the exploration of central studies in the field, in this perspective article, we will draw a compelling argument for the revolutionary aspect of TEI in biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison D. Wang
- The Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. USA
| | - Patrick Allard
- The Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles, California. USA
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12
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Small Noncoding RNAs in Reproduction and Infertility. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121884. [PMID: 34944700 PMCID: PMC8698561 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility has been reported as one of the most common reproductive impairments, affecting nearly one in six couples worldwide. A large proportion of infertility cases are diagnosed as idiopathic, signifying a deficit in information surrounding the pathology of infertility and necessity of medical intervention such as assisted reproductive therapy. Small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) are well-established regulators of mammalian reproduction. Advanced technologies have revealed the dynamic expression and diverse functions of sncRNAs during mammalian germ cell development. Mounting evidence indicates sncRNAs in sperm, especially microRNAs (miRNAs) and transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), are sensitive to environmental changes and mediate the inheritance of paternally acquired metabolic and mental traits. Here, we review the critical roles of sncRNAs in mammalian germ cell development. Furthermore, we highlight the functions of sperm-borne sncRNAs in epigenetic inheritance. We also discuss evidence supporting sncRNAs as promising biomarkers for fertility and embryo quality in addition to the present limitations of using sncRNAs for infertility diagnosis and treatment.
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13
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Angiogenin mediates paternal inflammation-induced metabolic disorders in offspring through sperm tsRNAs. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6673. [PMID: 34845238 PMCID: PMC8630171 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26909-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Paternal environmental inputs can influence various phenotypes in offspring, presenting tremendous implications for basic biology and public health and policy. However, which signals function as a nexus to transmit paternal environmental inputs to offspring remains unclear. Here we show that offspring of fathers with inflammation exhibit metabolic disorders including glucose intolerance and obesity. Deletion of a mouse tRNA RNase, Angiogenin (Ang), abolished paternal inflammation-induced metabolic disorders in offspring. Additionally, Ang deletion prevented the inflammation-induced alteration of 5'-tRNA-derived small RNAs (5'-tsRNAs) expression profile in sperm, which might be essential in composing a sperm RNA 'coding signature' that is needed for paternal epigenetic memory. Microinjection of sperm 30-40 nt RNA fractions (predominantly 5'-tsRNAs) from inflammatory Ang+/+ males but not Ang-/- males resulted in metabolic disorders in the resultant offspring. Moreover, zygotic injection with synthetic 5'-tsRNAs which increased in inflammatory mouse sperm and decreased by Ang deletion partially resembled paternal inflammation-induced metabolic disorders in offspring. Together, our findings demonstrate that Ang-mediated biogenesis of 5'-tsRNAs in sperm contributes to paternal inflammation-induced metabolic disorders in offspring.
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14
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Hime GR, Stonehouse SLA, Pang TY. Alternative models for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: Molecular psychiatry beyond mice and man. World J Psychiatry 2021; 11:711-735. [PMID: 34733638 PMCID: PMC8546770 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i10.711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental illness remains the greatest chronic health burden globally with few in-roads having been made despite significant advances in genomic knowledge in recent decades. The field of psychiatry is constantly challenged to bring new approaches and tools to address and treat the needs of vulnerable individuals and subpopulations, and that has to be supported by a continuous growth in knowledge. The majority of neuropsychiatric symptoms reflect complex gene-environment interactions, with epigenetics bridging the gap between genetic susceptibility and environmental stressors that trigger disease onset and drive the advancement of symptoms. It has more recently been demonstrated in preclinical models that epigenetics underpins the transgenerational inheritance of stress-related behavioural phenotypes in both paternal and maternal lineages, providing further supporting evidence for heritability in humans. However, unbiased prospective studies of this nature are practically impossible to conduct in humans so preclinical models remain our best option for researching the molecular pathophysiologies underlying many neuropsychiatric conditions. While rodents will remain the dominant model system for preclinical studies (especially for addressing complex behavioural phenotypes), there is scope to expand current research of the molecular and epigenetic pathologies by using invertebrate models. Here, we will discuss the utility and advantages of two alternative model organisms–Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster–and summarise the compelling insights of the epigenetic regulation of transgenerational inheritance that are potentially relevant to human psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary R Hime
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Sophie LA Stonehouse
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia
| | - Terence Y Pang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia
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15
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Morgart K, Harrison JN, Hoon AH, Wilms Floet AM. Adverse childhood experiences and developmental disabilities: risks, resiliency, and policy. Dev Med Child Neurol 2021; 63:1149-1154. [PMID: 33938573 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to the seminal work of Robert Anda and Vincent Felitti, it is now widely accepted that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have lifelong effects on physical, behavioral, and mental health and that many adult diseases can be considered developmental disorders that began early in life. Genomics has advanced the neurobiological understanding that underpins ACEs, wellness, and disease, which are modulated through stress pathways and epigenetic modifications. While data are currently limited, children with developmental disabilities have an increased ACE risk compared to typically developing peers. This recognition has important ramifications for health and policy interventions that address the root causes of ACEs, especially in this vulnerable population. With increased societal recognition, advances in policy will lead to medical, financial, and public benefits in years to come, hopefully changing healthcare models from 'sick care' to 'well care'. What this paper adds Adverse childhood experience (ACE) research has refocused medicine from the question 'What is wrong with you?' to 'What happened to you?'. Adopting ACE research into public policy can redirect healthcare models from providing 'sick care' to promoting 'well care'. Not exploring the role of ACEs in children with developmental disabilities leads to further vulnerability and morbidity. ACEs can be mitigated by early identification and implementation of evidence-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joyce Nolan Harrison
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexander H Hoon
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy and Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anna Maria Wilms Floet
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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16
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Alshanbayeva A, Tanwar DK, Roszkowski M, Manuella F, Mansuy IM. Early life stress affects the miRNA cargo of epididymal extracellular vesicles in mouse†. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:593-602. [PMID: 34426825 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm RNA can be modified by environmental factors and has been implicated in communicating signals about changes in a father's environment to the offspring. The small RNA composition of sperm could be changed during its final stage of maturation in the epididymis by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by epididymal cells. We studied the effect of exposure to stress in early postnatal life on the transcriptome of epididymal EVs using a mouse model of transgenerational transmission. We found that the small RNA signature of epididymal EVs, particularly miRNAs, is altered in adult males exposed to postnatal stress. In some cases, these miRNA changes correlate with differences in the expression of their target genes in sperm and zygotes generated from that sperm. These results suggest that stressful experiences in early life can have persistent biological effects on the male reproductive tract that may in part be responsible for the transmission of the effects of exposure to the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anar Alshanbayeva
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute at the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Neuroscience of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Deepak K Tanwar
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute at the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Neuroscience of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Roszkowski
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute at the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Neuroscience of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Manuella
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute at the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Neuroscience of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Mansuy
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute at the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Neuroscience of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Floriou-Servou A, von Ziegler L, Waag R, Schläppi C, Germain PL, Bohacek J. The Acute Stress Response in the Multiomic Era. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:1116-1126. [PMID: 33722387 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Studying the stress response is a major pillar of neuroscience research not only because stress is a daily reality but also because the exquisitely fine-tuned bodily changes triggered by stress are a neuroendocrinological marvel. While the genome-wide changes induced by chronic stress have been extensively studied, we know surprisingly little about the complex molecular cascades triggered by acute stressors, the building blocks of chronic stress. The acute stress (or fight-or-flight) response mobilizes organismal energy resources to meet situational demands. However, successful stress coping also requires the efficient termination of the stress response. Maladaptive coping-particularly in response to severe or repeated stressors-can lead to allostatic (over)load, causing wear and tear on tissues, exhaustion, and disease. We propose that deep molecular profiling of the changes triggered by acute stressors could provide molecular correlates for allostatic load and predict healthy or maladaptive stress responses. We present a theoretical framework to interpret multiomic data in light of energy homeostasis and activity-dependent gene regulation, and we review the signaling cascades and molecular changes rapidly induced by acute stress in different cell types in the brain. In addition, we review and reanalyze recent data from multiomic screens conducted mainly in the rodent hippocampus and amygdala after acute psychophysical stressors. We identify challenges surrounding experimental design and data analysis, and we highlight promising new research directions to better understand the stress response on a multiomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas von Ziegler
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Waag
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christa Schläppi
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Luc Germain
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Laboratory of Statistical Bioinformatics, Department for Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Johannes Bohacek
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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18
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Aly J, Engmann O. The Way to a Human's Brain Goes Through Their Stomach: Dietary Factors in Major Depressive Disorder. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:582853. [PMID: 33364919 PMCID: PMC7750481 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.582853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, more than 250 million people are affected by depression (major depressive disorder; MDD), a serious and debilitating mental disorder. Currently available treatment options can have substantial side effects and take weeks to be fully effective. Therefore, it is important to find safe alternatives, which act more rapidly and in a larger number of patients. While much research on MDD focuses on chronic stress as a main risk factor, we here make a point of exploring dietary factors as a somewhat overlooked, yet highly promising approach towards novel antidepressant pathways. Deficiencies in various groups of nutrients often occur in patients with mental disorders. These include vitamins, especially members of the B-complex (B6, B9, B12). Moreover, an imbalance of fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, or an insufficient supply with minerals, including magnesium and zinc, are related to MDD. While some of them are relevant for the synthesis of monoamines, others play a crucial role in inflammation, neuroprotection and the synthesis of growth factors. Evidence suggests that when deficiencies return to normal, changes in mood and behavior can be, at least in some cases, achieved. Furthermore, supplementation with dietary factors (so called “nutraceuticals”) may improve MDD symptoms even in the absence of a deficiency. Non-vital dietary factors may affect MDD symptoms as well. For instance, the most commonly consumed psychostimulant caffeine may improve behavioral and molecular markers of MDD. The molecular structure of most dietary factors is well known. Hence, dietary factors may provide important molecular tools to study and potentially help treat MDD symptoms. Within this review, we will discuss the role of dietary factors in MDD risk and symptomology, and critically discuss how they might serve as auxiliary treatments or preventative options for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Aly
- Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany
| | - Olivia Engmann
- Institute for Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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19
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Hannan AJ. Paternal bloodlines sculpting seminal concepts: circulating factors as mediators of transgenerational 'epigenopathy' and 'epigenetic resilience'. EMBO J 2020; 39:e107014. [PMID: 33175448 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence, particularly from rodent and human studies, shows that the environmental exposures and experience of a father prior to conception can modulate sperm epigenetics and subsequent offspring phenotypes. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, van Steenwyk and colleagues (2020) provide important new insights into how one form of paternal experience (early-life stress or trauma) may impact sperm epigenetics via circulating factors, presenting novel experimental evidence from a mouse model and an analogous human cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
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