Environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotype and disease

Abstract

Environmental epigenetics has an important role in regulating phenotype formation or disease etiology. The ability of environmental factors and exposures early in life to alter somatic cell epigenomes and subsequent development is a critical factor in how environment affects biology. Environmental epigenetics provides a molecular mechanism to explain long term effects of environment on the development of altered phenotypes and “emergent” properties, which the “genetic determinism” paradigm cannot. When environmental factors permanently alter the germ line epigenome, then epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of these environmentally altered phenotypes and diseases can occur. This environmental epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotype and disease is reviewed with a systems biology perspective.

Transgenerational epigenetic effects of theApobec1cytidine deaminase deficiency on testicular germ cell tumor susceptibility and embryonic viability

“…Many environmental factors and genetic variants are known to induce heritable epigenetic changes that can persist for multiple generations, affecting a broad range of traits, and that often are as frequent and strong as direct environmental exposures and conventional genetic inheritance (18,(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57). These transgenerational effects challenge our understanding of the modes and mechanisms for inherited phenotypic variation and disease risk, as well as the premise of most genetic studies in which causal DNA sequence variants are sought within the genome of affected individuals.…”

“…These transgenerational effects challenge our understanding of the modes and mechanisms for inherited phenotypic variation and disease risk, as well as the premise of most genetic studies in which causal DNA sequence variants are sought within the genome of affected individuals. Several molecular mechanisms have been implicated, ranging from inherited RNAs to chemically modified DNA and proteins (51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61). These transgenerational effects have important implications for our understanding of adaptation and evolution, the origins of phenotypic variation and disease risk, and the molecules in addition to DNA that can be the basis for inheritance (18,62,63).…”

“…cells (18,31); whether heritable epigenetic changes in the germline involve methylation, histone modifications, RNAs, or perhaps other molecules (18,(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61); whether the relevant Apobec1 functions involve RNA editing or DNA demethylation (37-41, 60, 61); and whether the same epigenetic changes are transmitted to subsequent generations or are responsible for reversing heritable epigenetic changes.…”

Epigenetic actions of environmental factors and promising drugs for cancer therapy (Review)

“…Additionally, the environmental factors include race, climate, life style, diet, nutritional factors (9), airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (10), toxicants (e.g., cocaine) (11), alcohol (5), fungicides or pesticides (e.g., dicofol and vinclozolin) (12), aflatoxin (13), bacteria (e.g., Helicobacter Pylori), viruses (e.g., hepatitis virus) (14), heavy metal exposure (e.g., cadmium, arsenic) (15) and endocrine disruptors (e.g., bisphenol-A) (16). Previous studies have demonstrated that the majority of environmental factors have the ability to interfere with DNA methylation by altering the availability of the methyl donor or the activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) (17). Compounds in the environment, including the endocrine disruptors (e.g., diethylstilbestrol), tobacco and ethanol, may induce epigenetic modification (18).…”

Unraveling important genetic associations and differential methylation profiles using reduced genome sequencing in chickens

“…These modifications include DNA methylation or hydroxymethylation of CG dinucleotides, chemical modifications of histones, interaction of DNA with small RNAs, or states of chromatin condensation (FEIL;FRAGA, 2011;TEPEREK-TKACZ et al, 2011;DENHAM et al, 2014). Altering epigenetic states can lead to distinguishable phenotypic consequences such as changes in the coat color (DOLINOY et al, 2007) or increased propensity to diseases (GUERRERO-BOSAGNA; SKINNER, 2012). A variety of organism models has been used in epigenetic research, including laboratory rodents (DOLINOY et al, 2007;GUERRERO-BOSAGNA et al, 2008;SUSIARJO et al, 2013), flies (SEONG et al, 2011), honey bees (LYKO et al, 2010;DICKMAN et al, 2013), plants (CUBAS et al, 1999;MANNING et al, 2006) and yeast (ZHANG et al, 2013).…”