Epigenetic regulation of transcription: a mechanism for inducing variations in phenotype (fetal programming) by differences in nutrition during early life?

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 97; no. 6; pp. 1036 - 1046
• Main Authors: Burdge, Graham C., Hanson, Mark A., Slater-Jefferies, Jo L., Lillycrop, Karen A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Birth weight; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases - genetics; DNA Methylation; DNA methyltransferase; embryology; environmental factors; Enzymes; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenesis, Genetic - genetics; Epigenetic regulation; Epigenetics; Fatty acids; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; fetal development; Fetal Development - genetics; Fetal programming; Fetuses; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; gene expression regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - genetics; Gene regulation; genetics; Genotype & phenotype; Health risks; Histones; Homeostasis; human nutrition; Humans; Insulin resistance; Laboratory animals; Lipids; literature reviews; Liver; maternal nutrition; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Metabolic disease; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic Diseases - embryology; Metabolic Diseases - genetics; Metabolic disorders; Metabolism; methyltransferases; Nutrition; nutrition-genotype interaction; nutritional status; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Phenotypic variations; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - genetics; Proteins; Rats; risk assessment; risk factors; Structure-function relationships; transcription (genetics); Transcription factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transcription, Genetic - genetics; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Metabolic disease; DNA methylation; DNA methyltransferase; Epigenetic regulation; Fetal programming; Pregnancy disorders; Nutrition; Transcription; Enzyme; Transferases; Epigenetic regulation: Fetal programming: Metabolic disease: DNA methylation: DNA methyltransferase; Metabolic diseases; Feeding; Vertebrata; Fetal diseases; Phenotype; Regulation(control); Mammalia; Methyltransferases; DNA; Early; Methylation
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114507682920

There is considerable evidence for the induction of different phenotypes by variations in the early life environment, including nutrition, which in man is associated with a graded risk of metabolic disease; fetal programming. It is likely that the induction of persistent changes to tissue structure and function by differences in the early life environment involves life-long alterations to the regulation of gene transcription. This view is supported by both studies of human subjects and animal models. The mechanism which underlies such changes to gene expression is now beginning to be understood. In the present review we discuss the role of changes in the epigenetic regulation of transcription, specifically DNA methylation and covalent modification of histones, in the induction of an altered phenotype by nutritional constraint in early life. The demonstration of altered epigenetic regulation of genes in phenotype induction suggests the possibility of interventions to modify long-term disease risk associated with unbalanced nutrition in early life.