Journal
EPIGENETICS
Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 286-296Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.4161/epi.27110
Keywords
copper; choline; S-adenosylmethionine; DNA methylation; fetus; liver; CyclinD1
Funding
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [K08DK084111]
- University of California Davis Center for Health and Nutrition Research (CHNR)
- National Center for Research Resources (NIH) [UL1 RR024146]
- NIH from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [1R01ES021707]
- Veterans Health Administration Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development National Merit Review grant award [I01 BX001155]
- NIH/NIAAA [P50-011999]
- [P30 DK026743]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Maternal diet can affect fetal gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Wilson disease (WD), which is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in ATP7B encoding a biliary copper transporter, is characterized by excessive hepatic copper accumulation, but variability in disease severity. We tested the hypothesis that gestational supply of dietary methyl groups modifies fetal DNA methylation and expression of genes involved in methionine and lipid metabolism that are impaired prior to hepatic steatosis in the toxic milk (tx-j) mouse model of WD. Female C3H control and tx-j mice were fed control (choline 8 mmol/Kg of diet) or choline-supplemented (choline 36 mmol/Kg of diet) diets for 2 weeks throughout mating and pregnancy to gestation day 17. A second group of C3H females, half of which were used to cross foster tx-j pups, received the same diet treatments that extended during lactation to 21 d postpartum. Compared with C3H, fetal tx-j livers had significantly lower copper concentrations and significantly lower transcript levels of Cyclin D1 and genes related to methionine and lipid metabolism. Maternal choline supplementation prevented the transcriptional deficits in fetal tx-j liver for multiple genes related to cell growth and metabolism. Global DNA methylation was increased by 17% in tx-j fetal livers after maternal choline treatment (P < 0.05). Maternal dietary choline rescued the lower body weight of 21 d tx-j mice. Our results suggest that WD pathogenesis is modified by maternal in utero factors, including dietary choline.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available