1
|
Legault LM, Breton-Larrivée M, Langford-Avelar A, Lemieux A, McGraw S. Sex-based disparities in DNA methylation and gene expression in late-gestation mouse placentas. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:2. [PMID: 38183126 PMCID: PMC10770955 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00577-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is vital for fetal development and its contributions to various developmental issues, such as pregnancy complications, fetal growth restriction, and maternal exposure, have been extensively studied in mice. The placenta forms mainly from fetal tissue and therefore has the same biological sex as the fetus it supports. Extensive research has delved into the placenta's involvement in pregnancy complications and future offspring development, with a notable emphasis on exploring sex-specific disparities. However, despite these investigations, sex-based disparities in epigenetic (e.g., DNA methylation) and transcriptomic features of the late-gestation mouse placenta remain largely unknown. METHODS We collected male and female mouse placentas at late gestation (E18.5, n = 3/sex) and performed next-generation sequencing to identify genome-wide sex differences in transcription and DNA methylation. RESULTS Our comparison between male and female revealed 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) on autosomes, which were associated with signaling pathways involved in transmembrane transport and the responses to viruses and external stimuli. X chromosome DEGs (n = 39) were associated with different pathways, including those regulating chromatin modification and small GTPase-mediated signal transduction. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were more common on the X chromosomes (n = 3756) than on autosomes (n = 1705). Interestingly, while most X chromosome DMRs had higher DNA methylation levels in female placentas and tended to be included in CpG dinucleotide-rich regions, 73% of autosomal DMRs had higher methylation levels in male placentas and were distant from CpG-rich regions. Several DEGs were correlated with DMRs. A subset of the DMRs present in late-stage placentas were already established in mid-gestation (E10.5) placentas (n = 348 DMRs on X chromosome and 19 DMRs on autosomes), while others were acquired later in placental development. CONCLUSION Our study provides comprehensive lists of DEGs and DMRs between male and female that collectively cause profound differences in the DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of late-gestation mouse placentas. Our results demonstrate the importance of incorporating sex-specific analyses into epigenetic and transcription studies to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of their conclusions and help address the significant knowledge gap regarding how sex differences influence placental function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Legault
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Alexandra Langford-Avelar
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Anthony Lemieux
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Serge McGraw
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Breton-Larrivée M, Elder E, Legault LM, Langford-Avelar A, MacFarlane AJ, McGraw S. Mitigating the detrimental developmental impact of early fetal alcohol exposure using a maternal methyl donor-enriched diet. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22829. [PMID: 36856720 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201564r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol exposure at any stage of pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a group of life-long conditions characterized by congenital malformations, as well as cognitive, behavioral, and emotional impairments. The teratogenic effects of alcohol have long been publicized; yet fetal alcohol exposure is one of the most common preventable causes of birth defects. Currently, alcohol abstinence during pregnancy is the best and only way to prevent FASD. However, alcohol consumption remains astoundingly prevalent among pregnant women; therefore, additional measures need to be made available to help protect the developing embryo before irreparable damage is done. Maternal nutritional interventions using methyl donors have been investigated as potential preventative measures to mitigate the adverse effects of fetal alcohol exposure. Here, we show that a single acute preimplantation (E2.5; 8-cell stage) fetal alcohol exposure (2 × 2.5 g/kg ethanol with a 2h interval) in mice leads to long-term FASD-like morphological phenotypes (e.g. growth restriction, brain malformations, skeletal delays) in late-gestation embryos (E18.5) and demonstrate that supplementing the maternal diet with a combination of four methyl donor nutrients, folic acid, choline, betaine, and vitamin B12, prior to conception and throughout gestation effectively reduces the incidence and severity of alcohol-induced morphological defects without altering DNA methylation status of imprinting control regions and regulation of associated imprinted genes. This study clearly supports that preimplantation embryos are vulnerable to the teratogenic effects of alcohol, emphasizes the dangers of maternal alcohol consumption during early gestation, and provides a potential proactive maternal nutritional intervention to minimize FASD progression, reinforcing the importance of adequate preconception and prenatal nutrition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Elder
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lisa-Marie Legault
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexandra Langford-Avelar
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Amanda J MacFarlane
- Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center, Texas A&M University, Texas, Fort Worth, USA.,Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Serge McGraw
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Legault LM, Doiron K, Breton-Larrivée M, Langford-Avelar A, Lemieux A, Caron M, Jerome-Majewska LA, Sinnett D, McGraw S. Pre-implantation alcohol exposure induces lasting sex-specific DNA methylation programming errors in the developing forebrain. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:164. [PMID: 34425890 PMCID: PMC8381495 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prenatal alcohol exposure is recognized for altering DNA methylation profiles of brain cells during development, and to be part of the molecular basis underpinning Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) etiology. However, we have negligible information on the effects of alcohol exposure during pre-implantation, the early embryonic window marked with dynamic DNA methylation reprogramming, and on how this may rewire the brain developmental program. Results Using a pre-clinical in vivo mouse model, we show that a binge-like alcohol exposure during pre-implantation at the 8-cell stage leads to surge in morphological brain defects and adverse developmental outcomes during fetal life. Genome-wide DNA methylation analyses of fetal forebrains uncovered sex-specific alterations, including partial loss of DNA methylation maintenance at imprinting control regions, and abnormal de novo DNA methylation profiles in various biological pathways (e.g., neural/brain development). Conclusion These findings support that alcohol-induced DNA methylation programming deviations during pre-implantation could contribute to the manifestation of neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with FASD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01151-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L M Legault
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - K Doiron
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - M Breton-Larrivée
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - A Langford-Avelar
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - A Lemieux
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - M Caron
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - L A Jerome-Majewska
- McGill University Health Centre Glen Site, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - D Sinnett
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - S McGraw
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
The first crucial step in the developmental program occurs during pre-implantation, the time after the oocyte has been fertilized and before the embryo implants in the uterus. This period represents a vulnerable window as the epigenome undergoes dynamic changes in DNA methylation profiles. Alterations in the early embryonic reprogramming wave can impair DNA methylation patterns and induce permanent changes to the developmental program, leading to the onset of adverse health outcomes in offspring. Although there is an increasing body of evidence indicating that harmful exposures during pre-implantation embryo development can trigger lasting epigenetic alterations in offspring, the mechanisms are still not fully understood. Since physiological or pathological changes in DNA methylation can occur as a response to environmental cues, proper environmental milieu plays a critical role in the success of embryonic development. In this review, we depict the mechanisms behind the embryonic epigenetic reprogramming of DNA methylation and highlight how maternal environmental stressors (e.g., alcohol, heat stress, nutrient availability) during pre-implantation and assisted reproductive technology procedures affect development and DNA methylation marks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine. Montreal, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Elder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine. Montreal, Canada
| | - Serge McGraw
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine. Montreal, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Université de Montréal, Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Piché J, Gosset N, Legault LM, Pacis A, Oneglia A, Caron M, Chetaille P, Barreiro L, Liu D, Qi X, Nattel S, Leclerc S, Breton-Larrivée M, McGraw S, Andelfinger G. Molecular Signature of CAID Syndrome: Noncanonical Roles of SGO1 in Regulation of TGF-β Signaling and Epigenomics. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 7:411-431. [PMID: 30739867 PMCID: PMC6369230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A generalized human pacemaking syndrome, chronic atrial and intestinal dysrhythmia (CAID) (OMIM 616201), is caused by a homozygous SGO1 mutation (K23E), leading to chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and arrhythmias. Because CAID patients do not show phenotypes consistent with perturbation of known roles of SGO1, we hypothesized that noncanonical roles of SGO1 drive the clinical manifestations observed. METHODS To identify a molecular signature for CAID syndrome, we achieved unbiased screens in cell lines and gut tissues from CAID patients vs wild-type controls. We performed RNA sequencing along with stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture. In addition, we determined the genome-wide DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility signatures using reduced representative bisulfite sequencing and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing. Functional studies included patch-clamp, quantitation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, and immunohistochemistry in CAID patient gut biopsy specimens. RESULTS Proteome and transcriptome studies converge on cell-cycle regulation, cardiac conduction, and smooth muscle regulation as drivers of CAID syndrome. Specifically, the inward rectifier current, an important regulator of cellular function, was disrupted. Immunohistochemistry confirmed overexpression of Budding Uninhibited By Benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1) in patients, implicating the TGF-β pathway in CAID pathogenesis. Canonical TGF-β signaling was up-regulated and uncoupled from noncanonical signaling in CAID patients. Reduced representative bisulfite sequencing and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing experiments showed significant changes of chromatin states in CAID, pointing to epigenetic regulation as a possible pathologic mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Our findings point to impaired inward rectifier potassium current, dysregulation of canonical TGF-β signaling, and epigenetic regulation as potential drivers of intestinal and cardiac manifestations of CAID syndrome. Transcript profiling and genomics data are as follows: repository URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo; SuperSeries GSE110612 was composed of the following subseries: GSE110309, GSE110576, and GSE110601.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Piché
- Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Natacha Gosset
- Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Lisa-Marie Legault
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alain Pacis
- Department of Genetics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Department of Biochemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Andrea Oneglia
- Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Maxime Caron
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Chetaille
- Service of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Mère Enfants Soleil, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Luis Barreiro
- Department of Genetics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Department of Biochemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Donghai Liu
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xioyan Qi
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Séverine Leclerc
- Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Serge McGraw
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Departement of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gregor Andelfinger
- Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Gregor Andelfinger, MD, FRCPC, Service of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cardiovascular Genetics Research Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Sainte Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal 3175, Chemin Côte Sainte Catherine, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C5 Canada. fax: (514) 345-4896.
| |
Collapse
|