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

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...